Several terpene glycosides (e.g., mogroside V, paenoiflorin, geniposide, rubusoside, rebaudioside A, steviol monoside and stevioside) were discovered to enhance the solubility of a number of pharmaceutically and medicinally important compounds, including but not limited to, paclitaxel, camptothecin, curcumin, tanshinone HA, capsaicin, cyclosporine, erythromycin, nystatin, itraconazole, celecoxib, clofazimine, digoxin, oleandrin, nifedipine, and amiodarone. The use of the diterpene glycoside rubusoside and monoterpene glycoside paenoiflorin increased solubility in all tested compounds. The terpene glycosides are a naturally occurring class of water solubility-enhancing compounds that are non-toxic and that will be useful as new complexing agents or excipients in the pharmaceutical, agricultural (e.g., solubilizing pesticides), cosmetic and food industries.