• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 1999

Free radicals formed during the metabolism of environmental chemicals are known to induce mutagenicity, while different types of antioxidants suppress this event. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of soybean saponins, and to examine the relationship between these two effects for the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the anticarcinogenicity of soybean saponins. Also, antioxidative and antimutagenic effects of soybean saponins were compared with those of kinown antioxidants. For the measurement of antioxidative capacity, soybean saponins, L-ascorbic acid, $\alpha$-tocophoerol, and BHT at concentrations between 005 and 1.0mg/ml were tested for their ability to donate hydrogens and to reduce the formation of thiobarbituric substances(TBARS). Antimutagenic activity was examined using the Ames salmonella test system at concentrations of 600, 900 or 1200ug/ml. Study results showed soybean saponins and all of the other antioxidants tested possessed dose-dependent antioxidative activities. The ability of hydrogen-donation to DPPH was in the order of L-ascorbic acid>$\alpha$-tocopherol=>BHT>soybean saponins. TBARS formation was also inhibited by these compounds, in the order of BHT>$\alpha$-tocopherol=L-ascorbic acid>soybean saponins. Soybean saponins and other antioxidants also showed antimutagenicity in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, soybean saponins and BHT were excellent antioxidants compounds, inhibiting near 80% of the mutagenic effects at a concentration of 1200ug/ml. The correlation coefficients between antioxidative capacity and antimutagenicity for each compund was statistically significant at p<0.05. These results indicate that soybean saponins possess antioxidative and antimutagenic capacities. Also, antimutagenicity of saponins and other antioxidats is partly due to their antioxidative activities.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.49-57
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• 2003

There is much evidence suggesting that compounds present in soybean can prevent cancer in many different organ systems. Especially, soybean is one of the most important source of dietary saponins, which have been considered as possible anticarcinogens to inhibit tumor development and major active components contributing to the cholesterol-towering effect. Also they were reported to inhibit of the infectivity of the AIDS virus (HIV) and the Epstein-Barr virus. The biological activity of saponins depend on their specific chemical structures. Various types of triterpenoid saponins are present in soy-bean seeds. Among them, group B soyasaponis were found as the primary soyasaponins present in soybean, and th e 2, 3-dihydro-2, 5-dihydroxy-6- methyl-4H-pyran-4-one(DDMP)-conjugated soyasaponin $\alpha\textrm{g}$, $\beta\textrm{g}$, and $\beta$ a were the genuine group B saponins, which have health benefits. On the other hand, group A saponins are responsible for the undesirable bitter and astringent taste in soybean. The variation of saponin composition in soybean seeds is explained by different combinations of 9 alleles of 4 gene loci that control the utilization of soyasapogenol glycosides as substrates. The mode of inheritance of saponin types is explained by a combination of co-dominant, dominant and recessive acting genes. The funtion of theses genes is variety-specific and organ specific. Therefore distribution of various saponins types was different according to seed tissues. Soyasaponin $\beta\textrm{g}$ was detected in both parts whereas $\alpha\textrm{g}$ and $\beta$ a was detected only in hypocotyls and cotyledons, respectively. Soyasaponins ${\gamma}$g and $\gamma\textrm{g}$ were minor saponin constituents in soybean. In case group A saponins were mostly detected in hypocotyls. Also, the total soyasaponin contents varied among different soy-bean varieties and concentrations in the cultivated soy-beans were 2-fold lower than in the wild soybeans. But the contents of soyasaponin were not so influenced by environmental effects. The composition and concentration of soyasaponins were different among the soy products (soybean flour, soycurd, tempeh, soymilk, etc.) depending on the processing conditions.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 1995

Saponins are glycosidic compounds present in many plant foods. They are characterized by their ability to lyse cell membranes due to their surface-active properties. Saponins are believed to interact primarily with cholesterol in the cell membrane. In this study, the interaction of soybean(SS) with cell membrane was investigated using erythrocytes as a model. Mechanisms of interaction was also investigated by measuring their binding capacity with different membrane lipid fractions. Throughout the study, gypsophilla saponin(GS) and quillaja saponin(QS) were used to evaluate the membranolytic activity of soybean saponins. All saponins released hemoglobin in a concentration-dependent manner. SS induced 40% hemolysis at the concentration of 400 ppm, however there was no increase in hemoglobin release above 400ppm concentration. 5ppm of GS and 8 ppm of QS hemolyzed 100% of erythrocytes. Isolation of SS fractions by thin layer chromatography revealed that only one non-polar saponin possesses strong hemolytic activity. When saponins were incubated decreased the release of cholesterol. When the hemolytic activity of saponins was measured in the presence of other major membrane lipid components, sphingomyelin significantly reduced the hemolytic activity of SS, while cholesterol reduced the activity of QS. GS showed high affinity to other component(s) in the incubation media as well as lipids. These results suggest that the membranolytic activity of saponins are related to their specific chemical structure, which determines the interaction behavior between saponins and different membrane components, and thereby influence the biological activity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.754-758
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• 2009

To develop soybean cake as a functional food material, the anti-oxidative and cytotoxic activities against human colon cancer cells of crude saponins isolated from 70% (v/v) ethanol extracts of cake were investigated. The Diaion HP-20 adsorption method was used for isolation of crude saponins, which were then eluted with 100% ethanol. The non-saponin fraction was removed by elution with $H_2O$ and 20% (v/v) ethanol. The results of thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis confirmed that crude saponins were present in the 100% ethanol extract of soybean cake. The hydrogen-donating properties of saponins were more than 60% at a concentration of $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$. malondialdehyde(MDA) production was $1,200\;{\mu}mol\;MDA/g$ in mouse liver homogenate treated with crude saponins at the concentration of $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$. This value was lower than that of the control, which was $3,700\;{\mu}mol\;MDA/g$. Saponins inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Saponins also resulted in a decrease in the proportion of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, whereas the cell proportion in G2/M phase was increased with $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$ saponins. Thus, we conclude that saponins may induce G2/M cell cycle arrest.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2021

Oleanane-type triterpenoids exist as secondary metabolites in various plants. In particular, soyasaponin, an oleanane-type triterpenoid, is abundant in the hypocotyl of soybean, one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. Depending on their chemical structure, soyasaponins are categorized as group A saponins or group DDMP (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) saponins. The different soyasaponin chemical structures present different health functionalities and taste characteristics. However, conventional phenotype screening of soybean requires a substantial amount of time for functionality of soyasaponins. Therefore, we attempted to use liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-PDA/MS/MS) for accurately predicting the phenotype and chemical structure of soyasaponins in the hypocotyl of five common soybean natural mutants. In this method, the aglycones (soyasapogenol A [SS-A] and soyasapogenol B [SS-B]) were detected after acid hydrolysis. These results indicated that the base peak and fragmentation differ depending on the chemical structure of soyasaponin with aglycone. Thus, a fragmentation database can help predict the chemical structure of soyasaponins in soyfoods and plants.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2010

Soybean seeds contain many biologically active secondary metabolites, such as proteins, saponins, isoflavones, phytic acids, trypsin inhibitors and phytosterols. Among them, saponins in soybeans have attracted considerable interest because of their health benefits. Soyasaponin A and B are the most abundant types of saponins found in soybeans along with soyasapogenol (aglycone), which is a precursor of soyasaponin. The main purpose of this experiment was to determine the concentration of soyasapogenol in soybean seeds and sprouts as a function of seed size, usage, seed coat color and seed cotyledon color. The 79 Korean soybean varieties were cultivated at Yesan of Chungnam in 2006 for the analysis of soyasapogenol using HPLC with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (ELSD). The total average concentration of soyasapogenol was $1313.52{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ in soybean seeds and $1377.22{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ in soybean sprouts. Soybean sprouts were about 5% higher than soybean seeds in average total soyasapogenol concentration. In the process of sprouting, the average soyasapogenol A content decreased by approximately 1.6%, but soyasapogenol B and total soyasapogenol increased by 8.31% and 4.88%, based on the content of soybean seeds. When classified according to the size of seeds, the total soyasapogenol concentration of soybean seeds were not significantly different (p<0.05) On average, small soybean seeds were increased by as much as $103.14{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ in sprouting process. As a function of the use of the seeds, The total soyasapogenol in soybean seeds were significantly different (p<0.05). While, the soybean sprouts were not significant different (p<0.05). Altogether, sprout soybean seeds show the greatest change in content during the germination process. When seeds with different coat colors were compared, the total soyasapogenol concentration of soybean with yellow seed coats ($1357.30\mu g\;g^{1}$) was slightly higher than that of soybean with black ($1260.30{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) or brown ($1263.62{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) seed coats. For the color of the cotyledon, the total soyasapogenol concentration was significantly increased in green cotyledon during the germination and seedling process. The results of this study suggest the functional characteristics of soybeans through quantitative analysis of soyasapogenol. In addition, the concentration of soyasapogenol exhibited a change during the germination process, which was evaluated by the nutritional value of the soybean sprouts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.1039-1044
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• 2003

We investigated the changes in saponins during the cultivation of soybean sprout. Crude saponin content was 4.15mg/g in germinated soybean and reached its peark (5.33mg/g) in soybean sprout cultivated for six days. Saponin content in the cotyledon, stem, and root of the soybean sprout cultivated for six days were 4.17, 7.46, and 7.45mg/g, respectively. Soyasaponins extracted from the soybean sprout were analyzed with LC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry, in which a reverse phase $C_18$ column was used for separation of saponins. In the soybeen sprout, group B saponin, I, II, III, IV, and V increased 7, 2, 1.4, 8.7, and 3.3 fold, respectively, compared to those in the soybean seed. Group B saponin I, II, III, IV, and V in the stem of the soybean sprout were 10.53, 1.45, 10.49, 5.72 and 8.14 fold the level of those in the cotyldon, respectively. In the root, the contents of group B saponin I, III, IV, and V were 5.54, 2.77, 4.86 and 9.73 fold, respectively, higher than those in cotyledon, but the content of group B saponin 2 was 2.96 fold less than that in cotyledon. These results indicate that the biosyntheses of group B saponins are differentially regulated in growing soybean sprout.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 1996.06b
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• pp.49-49
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• 1996

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2000

Recently new soybean saponins with D DMP (2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3,- dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one) moiety have been isolated from legumes. The purpose of this study is to characterize ROS scavenging activities of DDMP saponins ($\alpha$g, $\beta$g saponin) isolated from Glycine max (L.) Merrill. The scavenging activity on OH was examined in terms of lipid peroxidation in the rat liver homogenates and the same activity on $O_2$ was also determined in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, respectively. Up to 0.25 mg DDMP saponins ($\alpha$g and $\beta$g saponins) did not cause any significant effects on the prevention of lipid peroxidation as compared with the control group. In terms of superoxide scavenging activities, 0.25 and 0.5 mg $\alpha$g saponin inhibits only 2.6% and 5.5% (p<0.05) of the control group, respectively. However, $\alpha$g saponin dose-dependently (p<0.01, r=0.955) inhibits the formation of superoxide radical unto 21.3% of the control group with a maximal dose of 0.5 mg (p<0.01), equivalent to 0.17 units of superoxide dismutase activity.