Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
and several fruits; naringenin (
9
), the main flavanone in grape-
fruit; cyanidin-glycoside, an anthocyanin abundant in berry
fruits (black currant, raspberry, blackberry, etc.); and daid-
zein, genistein and glycitein, the main isoflavones in soybean
(D'Archivio et al., 2007).
OH
HO
O
OH
HO
O
OH
7
OH
O
HO
OH
OH
OH
8
OH
HO
O
OH
O
9
Saponins
Saponins are glycosides of both triterpenes and steroids that
are characterised by their bitter or astringent taste, foaming
property, haemolytic effect on red blood cells and cholesterol-
binding properties (Okwu, 2005). Saponins have been shown to
possess both beneficial (lowering cholesterol) and deleterious
(cytotoxic and permeabilisation of intestinal epithelium) prop-
erties and to exhibit structure-dependent biological activity. In
medicine, it is used to some extent as an expectorant and an
emulsifying agent (Harborne, 1973).
