The beneficial health effects of soybeans may be enhanced by increasing bioactive compounds including soyasaponins (ssp). The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of elicitors sprayed on Ozark variety soybeans, on ssp content. Different concentrations of elicitors, ethyl acetate (EA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ), were sprayed at 4 different growth stages (1-bloom, 2-pod development, 3-seed development, and 4-seed maturity). Seeds were ground, defatted, ssp was extracted and identified and quantified with HPLC. Elicitor and growth stage had an effect on βg and βa contents of soybeans compared with control (P < 0.05). Elicitor had an effect on total ssp content (P < 0.001) and αg and γg content of soybeans compared with control (P < 0.05). Total ssp content of EA 0.05 M, MJ 0.001 M, and 0.005 M sprayed soybeans were higher than EA 0.001 M, which is higher than control (P < 0.05; 3.62, 3.56, 3.56, 3.29, and 2.98 μmol/g soybean, respectively). The overall effect of elicitor on total ssp content was not dependent on growth stage, however, elicitors sprayed at growth stages 1, 2, and 3 showed differences among elicitor applied soybeans. Elicitors applied at growth stage 4 did not have any effect on total ssp content compared to control. Elicitors EA 0.05 M, MJ 0.001, and 0.005 M can be applied on any growth stage to increase total saponin content of soybean variety Ozark. Higher saponin content may improve the beneficial health effects of soybean consumption.

Blackberries contain non-nutritive phytochemicals which are abundant in berry fruits. Among these chemicals, anthocyanins are responsible for the bright colors seen in many fruits and plant as well as have potential health properties against chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Therefore, two anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were adopted to evaluate metabolism rate by cecal microflora which were acquired from four treatments 1) lean control (L-CTL), 2) obese control (O-CTL), 3) aged blackberries supplemented at 10% (w/w) (O-AB10), and 4) fresh blackberries supplemented at 10% (w/w) (O-FB10). Furthermore, a non-culture based technique; polymerase chain reaction-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-based DGGE) and further sequencing were performed to identify microbial populations. There were differences in the metabolism rates of two anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside) between two control groups and two treatment groups while no differences were shown within two control groups. The sequencing results based on DGGE represented that Lachnospiraceae bacteria found predominantly in blackberry treatment mice, Lactobacillus johnsonii was dominant species in both control and treatment groups. Bifodobacterium pseudolongum was identified in only obese control samples. In conclusion, differences in diets and body phenotype can have an effect on gut microflora and subsequently affect the metabolism rate of anthocyanins. Also, blackberry treatment groups demonstrated a more rapid anthocyanin degradation rate than the un-adapted control groups.

Group B saponins, the predominant form of saponins in heat-treated soy products, have been shown to possess hypocholesterolemic, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. Previous studies have evaluated crude mixtures of soyasaponins, but studies evaluating a single purified soyasaponin as an anticarcinogenic agent are limited. The goal of this study is to examine the effects of purified soyasaponins I and III as well as their aglycone form, soyasapogenol B, as anticarcinogenic agents on the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2). Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of purified soyasaponins on cell proliferation, Protein Kinase C (PKC) activity, and cell morphology in Caco-2 cell cultures. Treatment of cells with soyasaponins I and III at concentrations of 0.3-0.9 mg/ml significantly reduced viable cell numbers after 48 and 72 hours of exposure by 8.6-65.3% (p < 0.05). Soyasapogenol B at a concentration of 0.15 mg/ml significantly reduced viable cell numbers after 24 hours by 62.4% (p < 0.05). Cell morphology changes demonstrated that as concentrations and lipophilicity of soyasaponins increased, cell membranes became rougher and more irregular. Treatment of cells for 72 hours significantly reduced the amount of PKC activity by 9-40% (p < 0.05). Results indicate that purified soyasaponins I, III and soyasapogenol B can suppress Caco-2 colon cancer cell proliferation. These findings suggest that purified group B soyasaponins and their final metabolite soyasapogenol B may be a colon-cancer suppressive component of soy that warrants further examination as a potential nutraceutical or functional food.

Soy saponins (ssp) have shown to possess the health‐promoting properties. Finding soy varieties with high ssp content and increasing ssp content in a variety will increase their beneficial effects. The objective of this study is to find the effect of elicitors sprayed on Ozark, R95‐1705, and UA4805 on ssp content. Elicitors, salicylic acid (SA), ethyl acetate (EA), and methyl salicylate (MS), were sprayed at 10−3 and 10−1 M concentrations. Seeds were ground (60 mesh), defatted, and ssp was extracted. Variety had significant effect on ssp I, II, III, αg, βg, and βa of soybeans (P<0.0001). Ozark had higher total ssp content than UA4805 and R95‐1705 (4.2, 2.8, and 2.8 μmol/g soybean, respectively). Elicitor and variety had significant interaction on ssp II content of soybeans (P=0.0190). Elicitor had significant effect on total and ssp III contents (P=0.0058 and 0.035, respectively) of soybeans. Ozark had higher βg and βa contents than R95‐1705, followed by UA4805 (βg 2.70, 1.90, and 0.90; βa 0.96, 0.46, and 0.17 μmol/g soybean, respectively). The findings of this study will provide valuable data on the application of natural elicitors to increase ssp content. Higher content of ssp in soybean will improve health beneficial effects. Funding provided by Arkansas Biosciences Institute is greatly appreciated.