Saponinas esteroidais são uma importante classe de metabólidos secundários, estas são amplamente distribuídas em muitas espécies de plantas e são caracterizadas como princípio ativos destes produtos naturais. Saponinas tem sido investigadas ao longo dos anos, devido as suas potentes propriedades terapêuticas. Neste trabalho foram resumidos os estudos encontrados na literatura científica acerca das investigações das atividades biológicas e caracterização estrutural de saponinas esteroidais. Estudos recentes tem sugerido algumas saponinas como candidatas ao tratamento de pacientes com a doença do Coronavirus (COVID-19).Medicinal plants are sources of bioactive substances that can act to maintain human health. Among the compounds widely distributed in medicinal plants, there are steroidal saponins, an important class of secondary metabolites that are characterized as the active principle of these natural products. The structure of steroidal saponins is composed of a steroidal aglycone covalently linked to portions of carbohydrates and due to the complexity of its structure, the structural characterization processes are laborious. Steroidal saponins have been investigated over the years, due to their potent therapeutic properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic. In this work were summarized the studies found in the scientific literature in the last two decades, about the investigation of the therapeutic properties and structural characterization of the steroidal saponins. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that some saponins like candidates for the treatment of patients with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Studies on steroidal saponins are of great importance, as they can be potent therapeutic agents.