Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The saponins content of some Nigerian oil seeds

  • Published:
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three oil bearing seeds grown in Nigeria were found to contain saponins. The oil seeds, African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla) rubber seed (Havea brasilienses), andMucuna uriens were defatted and saponin fractions extracted with 20% aqueous ethanol. Saponins obtained after extraction were 2.1% for African oil bean seed, 1.8% for rubber seed, and 2.1% forMucuna. These figures were similar to that of defatted soyabean with 2.4%. Results are discussed in relation to the possible beneficial or detrimental effects of saponins to man or animals that may consume these oil seeds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Achinewhu SC (1982) Composition and food potentials of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) and velvet bean (Mucuna uriens). J Fd Sc 47:1736–1737

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson JO (1957) Effect of alfafa saponin on the performance of chicks and laying hens. Poultry Sci 36:873–876

    Google Scholar 

  3. Birk Y Bondi A, Gestetner B, Ishaaya I (1963) A thermo-stable hemolytic factor in soybeans. Nature 197:1089–1090

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brain KR, Fazli FRY, Hardman R (1968) The rapid quantitative determination of C25 epimerie steroidal sapogenins in plants. Phytochem 7:1815–1822

    Google Scholar 

  5. Djerassi C, Thomas DB, Livingstone AL, Thompson CR (1957) Terpenoids XXX1. The structure and stereo chemistry of medicagenic acid. J Am Chem Soc 79:5292–5297

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gestetner B (1964) A rapid paper chromatographic method for separation and identification of soybean sapogennols. J Chromatog 13:259–261

    Google Scholar 

  7. Harbone JB (1973) Saponins and sapogenins. In: Phytochemical Methods, 116–117 London; Chapman & Hill

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hudson BJF, El-Difrawi EA (1979) The sapogenins of the seeds of four lupin species. J Plant Foods 3:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lindahl IL, Cook AC, Davis RE, Maclay WD (1954) Preliminary investigation on the role of alfafa saponins in ruminant bloat. Science 119:157–158

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Oakenfull DG, Fenwick DE, Hood RL, Topping DL, Illman RL Storev GB (1979) Effects of saponins on bile acids and plasma lipids in the rat. Br J Nutr 42:209–216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sirtori CR, Agradi E, Conti F, Materc O, Gatti E (1977) Soybean protein diet in the treatment of type 11 hyperlipoproteinaemia. Lancet 1:175

    Google Scholar 

  12. Topping DL, Hood RL, Illman RJ, Storev GB, Oakenfull DG (1978) Effects of dietary saponins on bile acid secretion and plasma cholesterol in the rat. Proc Nutr Soc Aust 3:68

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wall ME, Eddy RC, Mclennan MI, Klumpp ME (1952) Detection and estimation of steroidal sapogenins in plant tissue. Anal Chem 24:1337–1344

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Technology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    S. C. Achinewhu

Authors
  1. S. C. Achinewhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Achinewhu, S.C. The saponins content of some Nigerian oil seeds. Plant Food Hum Nutr 33, 3–9 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01093732

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01093732

Key words

Search

Navigation