Effect of triterpene glycosides on the biosynthesis of sterols and fatty acids by the yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

: The effect of cauloside C from Caulophyllum robustum M., theasaponine from Thea sinensis L. and stichoposide A from Stichopus japonicus S. on the biosynthesis of sterols and fatty acids by the yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis was studied. In in vivo and in vitro experiments cauloside C and theasaponine inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis at the stage of squalene-to-lanosterol transformation. In in vivo experiments stichoposide A inhibited squalene biosynthesis. The triterpene glycosides tested showed a typical feature: in in vivo and in vitro experiments they blocked the biosynthesis of fatty acids.