They are naturally occurring glycosides extracted from different plants.
Subtypes:
They include asparanin A, asparanin B, sarsasapogenin, protodioscin, dioscorin, diosgenin, pisumsaponins I, pisumsaponins II, pisomosides A, pisomoside B, spinosaponin, esculeoside A, esculeogenin B1, esculeogenin B2, and soysapogenol I.
Food sources:
Fruits: Rambutan, and soapberries (Chinese litchi).
Vegetables: alfalfa sprouts, amaranth, asparagus, green peas, spinach, soybeans, tomatoes, and yams.
Health Benefits:
- Have anti-inflammatory activities.
- Display anti-cancer activities.
- Help lower an elevated blood pressure (dioscorin).
- May help reduce blood sugar level (pisomosides and pisumsaponins).
- May increase bone density (esculeoside A).
- Relieve symptoms of menopause (esculeoside A).
- May lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels (spinosaponin).
- May increase the production of male hormones (diosgenin).
