ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are important sources of various remedies to treat human disorders. In ancient time, crude drugs and their derived products have been used in the medicine against various health problems. Allopathic drugs were mainly derived from plants and their derived sources. Polygalaceae family have important role in the herbal medicine due to their diverse medicinal importance and Polygala senega L. Polygala senega have been used as a remedies against various form of respiratory disorders including asthma. In the nature, saponins showed numerous pharmacological activities against insects, viruses, fungus and microbes. However, its protective role in hepatic and immune system is also well known. Various types of senegins have been isolated from Polygala senega which shows immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, and anticancer activities. Here we have discussed the detailed information of Polygala senega and senegin. Analytical techniques mainly used for the isolation, detection, and quantification of senegin were also discussed 338in this chapter. The pharmaceutical and neutraceutical importance of senegin are mainly due to the presence of the glycosidic linkage. Senegin have commercial importance due to their health beneficial properties especially as an immunomodulator and anticancer effect. Development of senegin through plant tissue culture techniques is one of the unexplored area of research to meet the pharmaceutical demands in the future. Additional efforts should be also given to analyze the cellular localization of senegin in Polygala senega. This chapter will give insight into the functions of senegin and explore the researches of Polygala senega in the future.
