A review of glycosylation diversity and biosynthetic advances of steroidal saponins in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Steroidal saponins are the principal bioactive constituents of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (P. polyphylla) and are widely used in traditional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. However, increasing market demand, combined with the species slow growth cycle, has led to severe depletion of wild resources, while the natural abundance of key pharmacologically active compounds remains relatively low. Recent advances in multiomics technologies and synthetic biology have progressively clarified the biosynthetic pathways of steroidal saponins in P. polyphylla. Consequently, improving the production of these valuable metabolites through efficient heterologous biosynthesis has become an important strategy for their sustainable utilization. In this review, we systematically summarize the steroidal saponins identified in P. polyphylla, with particular emphasis on their glycosylation patterns, and comprehensively discuss recent progress in elucidating their biosynthetic pathways. This review aims to elucidate the structural diversity and glycosylation patterns of steroidal saponins in P. polyphylla and to systematically summarize their biosynthetic pathways, including steroidal backbone formation and glycosylation processes. By integrating recent advances in the chemical characterization and biosynthetic mechanisms of steroidal saponins, this review provides insights into the molecular basis underlying their structural diversity and establishes a theoretical framework for the sustainable utilization of P. polyphylla.