Wei Zhang
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, NY, USA

David G. Popovich
National University of Singapore, Singapore

Series: Food Science and Technology
BISAC: SCI013000

Soyasaponins are oleanane triterpenoids molecules that are found in Soy and other legumes such as green peas and lentils. Soyasaponins are diverse, structurally complex and possess amphiphilic properties, with polar water soluble sugar moieties attached to a non polar, water insoluble pentacyclic ring structure. In legumes, soyasaponins are present primarily as glycosides which are storage forms of saponins and are secondary plant metabolites. These molecules serve as defensive molecules for the plant to defend against biological predators such as fungi and herbivores. A resurgence of interest into secondary plant metabolites has emerged as many of these compounds possess diverse biological activity which includes the potential to act as chemo-preventive agents. (Imprint: Nova)