Biological Functionality of Soyasaponins and Soyasapogenols

Abstract

Soyasaponins are a group of structurally complex oleanane triterpenoids primarily found in soybeans and have diverse biological properties. The recent investigations and findings (since 2000) regarding the biological functions of soyasaponins and their aglycones, including their anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and hepato- and cardiovascular-protective activities, are herein summarized. The primary conclusion is that the use of soyasaponins and soyasapogenols in functional foods should be considered.

Soyasaponin Bb inhibits the recruitment of toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) into lipid rafts and its signaling pathway by suppressing the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase‐dependent generation of reactive oxygen species

“…Soyasaponins are amphiphilic oleanane triterpenoid glycosides with polar sugar chains conjugated to a nonpolar pentacyclic ring . In recent years, soyasaponins have attracted great interest by nutritionist and food researchers because of their multiple health‐promoting bioactivities such as antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti‐viral, and cholesterol lowering effects . Interestingly, recent studies reveal that soyasaponins, ranging from crude extracts to purified monomers, exhibited anti‐inflammatory properties .…”

Soyasaponin Ag inhibits α-MSH-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells via the downregulation of TRP-2

“…Azad) (14–16). Soyasaponins are oleanene-type triterpenoid saponins with polar sugar chains and a non-polar pentacyclic ring structure (17).…”

“…Soyasaponins are oleanene-type triterpenoid saponins with polar sugar chains and a non-polar pentacyclic ring structure (17). These metabolites are generally divided into four main groups on the basis of their aglycone (soyasapogenol) structure, referred to as groups A, B, E and DDMP (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4-pyrone) (14). Group A soyasaponins contain bidesmosides with two sugar chains at the C-3 and C-22 position of soyasapogenol A.…”

“…Soyasaponins have been shown to have a number of biological functions, including anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects, as well as hepatoprotective effects (14,18,19). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has investigated the putative anti-melanogenic effects of soyasaponins.…”

Soyasaponin bb protects rat hepatocytes from alcohol-induced oxidative stress by inducing heme oxygenase-1

“…[22] Recent studies reported that soyasaponins presented a wide range of health benefits, including memory impairment prevention, immune adjuvant activities, and cytoprotective and hepatoprotective effects. [232223242526] Although crude soyasaponins-rich extract has been shown effective on acute alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice,[27] the protective mechanism and monomer compound activities are still unknown, which limited their application in functional foods.…”