α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Isoflavones and Saponins from Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] belongs to the Leguminosae family has been used as a food and dietary supplement for a long time because of the importance of its nutritional properties and the functional characteristics. It is well established that isoflavones and saponins found in high concentrations in soybeans have received great attention due to their potential beneficial effects on human health. Especially, α-glucosidase inhibitors can retard the liberation of D-glucose from oligosaccharides and disaccharides from dietary complex carbohydrates and delay glucose absorption, resulting in reduced postprandial plasma glucose levels and suppressed postprandial hyperglycemia. This prompted us to investigated α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of seven isoflavones and ten soyasaponins derivatives.