Planta Med 2009; 75(4): 371-374
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1112221
Natural Products Chemistry
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Soyasaponin Bh, a Triterpene Saponin Containing a Unique Hemiacetal-Functional Five-Membered Ring from Glycine max (Soybeans)

Zulfiqar Ali1 , Shabana I. Khan1 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 16, 2008 Revised: November 10, 2008

Accepted: November 20, 2008

Publication Date:
15 January 2009 (online)

Abstract

Soybeans (Glycine max L. Merill) and soy-based food products are major dietary sources of saponins. An oleanane triterpenoid saponin, soyasaponin Bh (1) containing a unique five-membered ring with a hemiacetal functionality together with seven known saponins were isolated from soybeans. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic analyses including HR-ESI-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR. None of the isolated saponins showed any anti-cell proliferative activity in tumor cell lines. Soysaponin I showed a weak estrogenic effect in the yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay.

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Ikhlas A. Khan

National Center for Natural Products Research

University of Mississippi

University

MS 38677

USA

Phone: +1-662-915-7821

Fax: +1-662-915-7989

Email: ikhan@olemiss.edu