Chemiluminescence of soybean saponins in the presence of active oxygen species

Abstract

Natural active oxygen scavengers (Y; catalytic compounds) exhibit chemiluminescence (CL) in the presence of an X (active oxygen compounds) and a Z (receptive compounds). The CL derived from soyasaponins Ab and βg, major components of group A and DDMP saponins present at high level in the hypocotyl of soybean seeds, was compared with (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC) as the most effective Y and acetaldehyde (MeCHO) as the most effective Z in the presence of H 2O 2 as X. We have found that soyasaponin Ab and soyasaponin βg are Y equivalent to EGC and Z equivalent to MeCHO, respectively. In the presence of soyasaponin Ab as Y, CL of soyasaponin βg showed about 100-fold than that of MeCHO as Z. These results suggest that group A and DDMP saponins play an important role in the scavenging function of active oxygen.