Soyasaponin ameliorates obesity and reduces hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis in high‐fat diet‐fed mice

Abstract

Soyasaponins are triterpenoid glycosides found in soybean. We investigated whether soyasaponin ameliorates lipid metabolism and its possible mechanisms. In C57BL/6J mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD), soyasaponin (SAP) was orally administered for 9 weeks. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of soyasapogenols on 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. In HFD‐fed mice, the SAP significantly reduced body weight by 7% and relative adipose tissue weight by 35%. X‐ray computed tomography demonstrated that the SAP reduced visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights during week 3 of feeding. The SAP reduced sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) mRNA levels by 32% in the epididymal adipose tissue, significantly decreasing the triacylglycerol (TAG) content by 37% and SREBP‐1c and fatty acid synthase mRNA levels by 52% and 61%, respectively, in the liver. In 3T3‐L1 adipocytes, soyasapogenol B significantly decreased lipid droplets. The SAP containing soyasaponin A and B as conjugates demonstrate anti‐obesity effects by suppressing adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis, with a preventive effect on hepatic TAG accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis. Practical Application Soyasaponin is one of the oleanane triterpenoids in soybeans. We have demonstrated that soyasaponin potently reduces body weight and white adipose tissue weight, and hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. Thus, soyasaponin is a beneficial compound to prevent obesity and fatty liver.

Metabolomics as a Tool to Study Underused Soy Parts: In Search of Bioactive Compounds

“…[108] identified several soyasaponins, sapogenins, and isoflavones in soy root exudates. Soyasaponins have been linked to anti-obesity, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as preventive effects on hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation [123][124][125][126]. Omar et al [127] identified the potent inhibitory effects of soyasapogenol A, which is a triterpenoid, against p53-deficient aggressive malignancies.…”

Anti-Obesity Effects of Matoa (Pometia pinnata) Fruit Peel Powder in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

“…The inhibitory activity of saponins against pancreatic lipase is considered one of the mechanisms underlying their anti-obesity effect [28]; however, in this study, addition of MPP to the HFD did not increase the fecal TG content, suggesting that pancreatic lipase activity was not inhibited by the compounds in MPP. Similarly, the antiobesity effects of soyasaponins and fermented soymilk were not associated with increased fecal lipid levels [30,33]. Moreover, soyasaponins did not inhibit pancreatic lipase in vitro, indicating that pancreatic lipase inhibition is not always involved in the anti-obesity effect of bioactive foods.…”

“…However, other triterpenoid saponins in foods and herbs have been shown to modulate metabolic pathways and thereby prevent obesity [28,29]. Recently, Tsai et al reported the anti-obesity effect of soyasaponins in HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice [30]. In addition, Wu et al demonstrated that oleanane and ursane-type triterpenoids isolated from Cyclocarya paliurus (CP) downregulated intestinal ApoB-48 secretion and that a hydroxy group at C-23 in the triterpenoid structure seemed to be essential for their activities [16].…”

“…Some saponins are converted to more bioavailable and bioaccessible compounds, such as sapogenins (aglycones of saponins), by the colonic microbiota [34]. The inhibitory effects of soyasapogenols, the aglycones of soyasaponins, have been demonstrated in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes [30]. Therefore, it is possible that hederagenin may have reached the liver or adipose tissue while HGS 1 did not.…”

Soyasaponin Ag inhibits triple-negative breast cancer progression via targeting the DUSP6/MAPK signaling

“…Based on the aglycone (soyasapogenol) structure, soyasaponins are mainly divided into two groups as A and B [11]. Soyasaponin A contains sugar moieties at the C-3 and C-22 positions of the ring structures [12]. Soyasaponin A has eight isomers, named as Aa-Ah [13].…”