Steroidal compounds in Paris polyphylla:structure, biological activities, and biosynthesis

Steroidal compounds are chemical constituents found in the traditional medicinal plant Paris polyphylla, known for their significant pharmacological activities. Due to their complex structures, the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds have garnered considerable attention. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of steroidal compounds from P. polyphylla, with several complete biosynthetic routes being fully characterized. The de novo synthesis of diosgenin has been successfully achieved in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana using various metabolic engineering techniques. Herein, we summarize the latest research progress regarding the structural classification, biological activities, and biosynthesis studies of steroidal compounds from P. polyphylla.