Active Oxygen Scavenging Activity of DDMP (2,3-Dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4<i>H</i>-pyran-4-one) Saponin in Soybean Seed

Abstract

DDMP saponin, which is widely distributed in leguminous seeds, scavenged oxygen radicals when assayed using the xanthine oxidase-NH2OH method, electron spin resonance (ESR), and chemiluminescence. One mg of DDMP saponin/ml scavenged superoxide at a degree equivalent to 17.1 units of superoxide dismutase/ml by the ESR spin trapping method. This scavenging activity of DDMP saponin is caused by the DDMP moiety attached to the triterpene aglycone since soybean saponin Bb, which is derived from soyasaponin βg, but which lacks this group, did not show the scavenging activity.