The isolation of soyasaponins by fractional precipitation, solid phase extraction, and low pressure liquid chromatography.

Bioactive soyasaponins are present in soybean (Glycine max). In this study, the isolation of soyasaponins in relatively pure form (>80%) using precipitation, solid phase extraction and reverse phase low pressure liquid chromatography (RP-LPLC) is described. Soy flour soyasaponins were separated from non-saponins by methanol extraction and precipitation with ammonium sulphate. Acetylated group A soyasaponins were isolated first by solid phase extraction followed by RP-LPLC (solvent: ethanol-water). Soyasaponins, from a commercial preparation, were saponified and fractionated into deacetylated group A and group B soyasaponins by solid phase extraction (methanol-water). Partial hydrolysis of group B soyasaponins produced a mixture of soyasaponin III and soyasapogenol B monoglucuronide. RP-LPLC of deacetylated group A soyasaponins separated soyasaponin A1 and A2 (38% methanol); of group B soyasaponins isolated soyasaponin I (50% ethanol); and of the partial hydrolysate separated soyasaponin III from soyasapogenol B monoglucuronide (50% ethanol). This methodology provides soyasaponin fractions that are suitable for biological evaluation.