The role of triterpenoid on reactive oxygen scavenging system: approach from the new chemiluminescence system (XYZ system).

We propose that the reactive oxygen species/hydrogen donor/mediator system (XYZ system) is a new chemiluminescence system for the measurement of reactive oxygen scavenging activity. By using this method, we demonstrated the role of triterpenoid on a reactive oxygen scavenging system. DDMP (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) conjugated saponin from soybean, produced a low level light emission in the presence of H202 (X) and gallic acid (Y). The soybean saponin acted as a mediator (Z) on the reactive oxygen scavenging system. When comparing the data of photon emission properties of saponin with that of cholic acids, it concludes that DDMP moiety of soybean saponin plays an important role rather than the aglycon moiety in the radical scavenging system.