抄録
The saponin, esculeoside A, has been isolated as a predominant constituent from ripe fruits of the tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L., along with other minor ingredients. On the other hand, it has been established that esculeosides B-1 and B-2 are major constituents in processed canned tomatoes and juice. These are chemical isomers of tomato saponin obtained by refluxing with water. Since i) tomato saponin is partly converted into the pregnane glycoside during over-ripening, ii) the sapogenol of tomato saponin, esculeogenin A, is easily converted into the pregnane, and iii) metabolites including androstane derivatives are found in urine after consumption of large amounts of tomatoes, we hypothesize that orally administered steroidal glycosides such as spirostanol, furostanol and spirosolane glycosides are metabolized into pregnane derivatives. Tomato saponin is expected to be a constituent of health foods.
