Certain beneficial effect of saponins such as lowering of plasma cholesterol levels in humans, anticarcinogenic activity, inhibitory effect on infectivity of HIV in vitro, antioxidant activity of saponins and protective effect on liver injury. Considerable quantity of soyasaponins are reported in soybean and beans. Soyasaponins are classified into two major groups, soyasaponin A and B. Group A acetylated saponins present in soybean are mostly responsible for undesirable bitter and astringent taste, whereas Group B saponins possess several health benefits. Recent in vitro studies have established that the health benefits such as hypocholesterolemic (cholesterol lowering) effect, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-hepatic, anti-diabetic and hepato-protective properties of food legumes are due to presence of group B saponins. Dietary saponins of soybeans are advantageous in preventing hypercholesterolemia and aortic atherosclerosis.
Saponins are phytochemicals which can be found in most vegetables, beans and herbs. The best known sources of saponins are peas, soybeans, and some herbs with names indicating foaming properties such as soapwort, saoproot, soapbark and soapberry.
Saponins are glucosides with foaming characteristics. Saponins consist of a polycyclic aglycones attached to one or more sugar side chains. The aglycone part, which is also called sapogenin, is either steroid (C27) or a triterpene (C30). The foaming ability of saponins is caused by the combination of a hydrophobic (fat-soluble) sapogenin and a hydrophilic (water-soluble) sugar part. Saponins have a bitter taste. Some saponins are toxic and are known as sapotoxin.
Health Benefits of Saponins
Saponins cause a reduction of blood cholesterol by preventing its re-absorption.
Saponins have antitumor and anti-mutagenic activities and canlower the risk of human cancers, by preventing cancer cells from growing.
Saponins also seem to help our immune system and to protect against viruses and bacteria.
Saponins have a protective role on bone loss.
The non-sugar part of saponins have a direct antioxidant acitivity, which may results in other benefits such as reduced risk of cancer and heart diseases.
study has also shown that saponins are the active ingredients in certain herbs such as heinsia crinata that mediate the antidiabetic activity of the herb.
Saponins are found in some plants used by Aboriginal people for their medicinal properties, for example, Acacia holosericea, A. auriculiformis, and Alphitonia excela.
Saponins are naturally occurring surface active glycosides mainly produced by plants, besides some bacteria and lower marine animals. Their structure consists of a sugar moiety linked to a hydrophobic aglycone called sapogenin. The sugar moiety may contain glucose, galactose, rhamnose, methylpentose, glucuronic acid or xylose, while the aglycone portion may be a steroid or a triterpene. Steroidal saponins are mainly abundant in monocotyledons, while dicotyledons predominantly contain triterpenoid saponins. Saponins may help reduce cholesterol levels, strengthen the immune system, treats diabetes, and inhibit tumor growth. They also improve lipid metabolism and may help prevent and treat obesity. Please see the following RG links for more details.
Article Saponins and their biological activities
Article Saponins: Properties, Applications and Processing
Article Saponins and their potential role in diabetes mellitus
Article Saponin as anticarcinogens
Article Saponins: the Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents in Pursuing ...
Article Effects of Saponins on Lipid Metabolism: A Review of Potenti...
Article Therapeutic Effect of Total Ginseng Saponin on Skin Wound Healing
Saponins are strongly bitter-tasting, surface active compounds with a structure consisting of a steroid or triterpenoid aglycone and one or more sugar chains, which are present in quinoa seeds at significant levels.
Article Absorption, Disposition, and Pharmacokinetics of Saponins fr...
Saponins are naturally available compounds that are found in all cells of legume plants. Chemically, saponins contain a carbohydrate part linked to a triterpenoid or steroids.
Benefits of saponin:
1. Reduce risk of cancer
2. Lowering cholesterol level
3. Reduce blood lipid
4. Lowering blood glucose level
5. It is used for inhibition dental caries and
6. It is used for inhibition platelets aggregation
7. It is used as antidote against acute lead poisoning.
You could study the following link to get general/overview information about the saponin compound.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Saponin
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