Antioxidative Effects of Dihydro-γ-pyronyl-triterpenoid Saponin (Chromosaponin I)

Chromosaponin I (CSI), the naturally occurring form of soya-saponin I, inhibited the oxidation of soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomal membranes induced by a water-soluble radical initiator, 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. The antioxidative activity of CSI was similar to that of urate. Soyasaponin I, a degraded product of CSI, which has previously been thought to be an antioxidant, exerted no antioxidative activity.