Functional attributes of soybean seeds and products,with reference to isoflavone content and antioxidant activity

The concentrations of isoflavones, especially daidzein and genistein, were determined by high performance liquid chromatography in 4 soybean cultivars and 26 soybean products. The total isoflavone content of the soybean cultivars was in the range of 525–986 mg per kg, and for soy products it was 32.9–795 mg per kg. Amongst the soybean products, the isoflavone content decreased in the order: soy sprouts, soy seeds, soy flour, soy milk, soy meals and soy sauce. Significant differences in the concentration of genistein and daidzein were observed between the commercial soy products and also within the soybean cultivars. The antioxidant activity of soybean and soy products correlated well with total phenolic content (TPC) and total isoflavones (TI), whereas TPC showed higher correlation with TI.     

Isoflavone content of soybean cultivars grown in eastern Canada

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr) seeds contain isoflavones that have positive impacts on human health. The objective of this study was to determine isoflavone concentrations of early maturing soybean cultivars grown in different environments and to determine their relation to other important seed characteristics. Twenty soybean cultivars were grown in replicated trials at two sites in Montreal, Canada in 2002/2003 and their total and individual isoflavone concentrations were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Seed yield, 100‐seed weight and oil, crude protein and crude fiber concentrations were concurrently determined. Total and individual isoflavone concentrations were significantly affected by cultivar, site and year. Total isoflavone concentration ranged from 360 to 2241 µg g^?1 and averaged 851 µg g^?1 across environments and cultivars. Variation across environments ranged from 20 to 100% for specific cultivars. Total isoflavone concentration was, on average, 40% greater in 2003 than 2002, which was characterized by above average temperatures and severe drought. Despite significant cultivar × year × site interactions, cultivars with consistently high and low isoflavone concentrations across environments were identified. Weak but significant positive correlations were observed between total isoflavone concentration and seed yield, 100‐seed weight and crude fiber, indicating that isoflavone concentration is positively associated with other desirable seed characteristics. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Characterisation and comparison of phenols,flavonoids and isoflavones of soymilk and their correlations with antioxidant activity

To investigate the relationship between bioactive compounds and antioxidant property, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), individual and total isoflavone content of soymilk and their correlations with oxygen‐radical‐absorbing capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity values were evaluated and compared. Results showed that TPC, TFC, isoflavones (including concentration and profiles) and antioxidation activity significantly varied among ten tested soybean cultivars. Significant correlations were established between DPPH and TFC (r = 0.553, P < 0.01), DPPH and TPC (r = 0.753, P < 0.01), FRAP and TFC (r = 0.599, P < 0.01) and FRAP and TPC (r = 0.616, P < 0.01). Positive linear correlations were found between subtotal, total isoflavones and ORAC. Unlike other isoflavone monomers, aglycone isoflavones correlated positively with DPPH and FRAP significantly. DPPH well correlated with FRAP, whereas neither DPPH nor FRAP correlated with ORAC. TPC, TFC, individual and total isoflavone values are potentially useful for soymilk antioxidant activity assessment.     

净作和套作条件下大豆籽粒异黄酮积累规律比较

以我国西南地区3个常用大豆品种为材料,比较净作和套作条件对大豆籽粒发育及后熟过程中异黄酮积累规律的影响。结果表明：籽粒成熟期按总异黄酮积累速率可分为初始积累期和快速积累期;受田间小气候影响,套作条件下大豆较晚进入快速积累期;田间采收时,贡选1号品种净作总异黄酮含量极显著高于套作,南豆16和贡秋豆3号净作与套作之间差异不显著。3个品种籽粒后熟期套作条件下总异黄酮的积累量均极显著高于净作,总异黄酮含量套作均显著高于净作;后熟期不同品种异黄酮各组分及总异黄酮的积累量均存在显著差异。本研究发现净套作对3个大豆品种的异黄酮积累动态及总含量均有显著影响,品种间籽粒异黄酮的积累对种植条件的反应不同。相对净作而言,后熟过程更利于套作大豆籽粒异黄酮的进一步积累。     

Comparisons of flavonoids and anti-oxidative activities in seed coat,embryonic axis and cotyledon of black soybeans

Flavonoids contents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were compared in three black soybean varieties CRWD, Tainan 3 and Tainan 5. Varietal differences in antioxidant contents existed among the tested varieties. Variety CRWD accumulated more total phenolics (7.49 mg g⁻¹) and isoflavones (1.77 mg g⁻¹) than varieties Tainan 3 (7.05 mg g⁻¹ total phenolics and 1.58 mg g⁻¹ isoflavones) and Tainan 5 (4.38 mg g⁻¹ total phenolics and 0.63 mg g⁻¹ isoflavones). CRWD also accumulated more proanthocyanidins in seed coat than Tainan 3 and Tainan 5. CRWD also demonstrated greater DPPH and FRAP activities than the other two cultivars. Stepwise regressions indicated that both DPPH and FRAP activities were correlated well with the total contents of phenolics and flavonoids, with total phenolics being the most important anti-oxidative factor. The present results indicate that CRWD has greater anti-oxidative responses than Tainan 3 or Tainan 5, and is useful in functional food and other applications.     

Effect of biotic elicitors on enrichment of antioxidant properties and induced isoflavones in soybean

ABSTRACT:  The antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from soybean obtained with germination, wounding, and application of biotic elicitors were evaluated. Also, the relationship between observed antioxidant properties and compositional changes in isoflavone content was determined. The 2 biotic elicitors used in this study were the food-grade fungus Aspergillus sojae and A. sojae cell wall extract. Isoflavone content was determined by C₁₈ reverse phase high-performance chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and β-carotene cooxidation in a linoleate system. Higher antioxidant activities were observed in wounded and elicitor-treated extracts when compared with nonwounded control extracts. In addition, the phenolic content was higher in extracts from wounded and elicitor-treated soybean. Germination for 3 d slightly decreased total isoflavone content (–4.3%); however, wounding increased total isoflavone content (25.8%). The soybean extracts from seeds treated with A. sojae biotic elicitors had the highest total isoflavone contents (9.8 to 11.6 mg/g extract) and displayed the highest antioxidant activities in both the DPPH and β-carotene assays. Also identified in the wounded and elicitor-treated extracts were the induced isoflavones glyceollins that contributed to the higher isoflavone contents observed.     

不同品种大豆异黄酮组分及体外抗氧化活性分析

为研究不同品种大豆异黄酮组分和含量以及抗氧化活性,测定了50个特色大豆品种的百粒重、色泽（L*、a*、b*）,通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）测定异黄酮组分,评估不同品种大豆甲醇提取物的DPPH、ABTS自由基清除能力,并用相关性分析、主成分分析及聚类分析法对样品进行分析。结果表明:大豆的百粒重范围为7.05~47.46 g。不同种皮色大豆L*、a*和b*呈现显著差异（P<0.05）。HPLC分析结果发现糖苷型异黄酮含量是大豆中主要的异黄酮组分,占总异黄酮含量的90%以上。其中染料木苷含量最高。安豆115品种的大豆异黄酮的总含量最高,为2500.78 μg/g;靖江丝瓜青品种的大豆异黄酮含量最低,为888.86 μg/g。安豆115品种的DPPH和ABTS自由基清除能力较强,分别为（16.11±0.25）和（8.12±0.04）μmol V_C/g。糖苷型异黄酮含量与DPPH和ABTS自由基清除能力有较高的线性相关性（R2分别为0.903和0.867）。主成分分析表明6项指标可用2个主成分来表示（累计贡献率达66.3%）。聚类分析将50个品种的大豆分为4类:第一类中黄豆黄素和黄豆黄苷含量较高;第二类中大豆苷、大豆苷元、染料木苷和染料木素含量较高;第三类和第四类中其大豆异黄酮含量基本处于中等水平和较低含量。综上所述,不同大豆品种的异黄酮组成、含量和抗氧化能力存在较大差异,可为其进一步综合开发利用提供一定理论基础。     

Effect of temperature and water availability during late maturation of the soybean seed on germ and cotyledon isoflavone content and composition

BACKGROUND: Isoflavone content in soybean seeds is strongly influenced by both environment and genotype. However, little is known about the effect of environment and genotype on isoflavones in germ versus cotyledons. To determine the effect of temperature and soil moisture status during soybean seed development on seed isoflavone concentration and composition, a set of two French and three US cultivars of similar maturity were grown in the greenhouse. At the R6 growth stage, plants were subjected to one of three night/day temperature regimes (13/23°, 18/28° or 23/33 °C) in either optimal or sub‐optimal soil water conditions. RESULTS: In cotyledons, a three‐ to six‐fold variation in total isoflavone content was observed between the high and low temperature treatments, whereas the germ contents had less than a two‐fold variation. Soil water supply had less effect than temperature on the isoflavone contents and compositions. In both seed parts, the isoflavone concentrations were highly dependent on the cultivar. CONCLUSION: These results show that isoflavone content and composition in cotyledon and germ are unrelated and it should be possible to independently manipulate these seed traits through plant breeding and crop management systems. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

酱油渣异黄酮抗氧化功效成分纯化研究

以酱油渣为原料,采用乙醇提取法提取酱油渣中大豆异黄酮,对提取条件进行了优化。比较了醇沉法、等电点沉淀法、浓缩离心法、正丁醇法、二氯甲烷法、乙酸乙酯萃取法等6种方法对异黄酮粗提物的纯化效果。通过高效液相鉴定了纯化产物的异黄酮单体组成,并采用邻苯三酚氧化法和DPPH法评价了异黄酮纯化物的体外抗氧化活性。结果表明：优化条件下提取的异黄酮粗提物中异黄酮质量分数为1.21%、提取率为（85.36±0.09）%。6种纯化方法中,浓缩离心法所得异黄酮产物中异黄酮纯度为7.75%,去除蛋白质效果最佳;二氯甲烷萃取法所得异黄酮产物中异黄酮纯度为27.74%,去除总糖和灰分效果最佳;两者联用后所得纯化产物的异黄酮纯度为44.88%,其主要由染料木素、大豆黄素和大豆素组成,质量分数分别为67.37%、9.33%、23.30%。在质量浓度为1 mg/mL时,异黄酮纯化物对超氧阴离子、DPPH自由基的清除率分别为67.65%、89.18%,显著高于异黄酮粗提物（P＜0.05）,其IC50分别为0.34、0.26 mg/mL,说明异黄酮纯化物具有一定的抗氧化活性,有望作为一种潜在的天然抗氧化剂应用于功能性食品中。     

Isoflavone Profile in Soymilk as Affected by Soybean Variety,Grinding, and Heat‐Processing Methods

Isoflavones impart health benefits and their overall content and profile in foods are greatly influenced at each step during processing. In this study, 2 soybean varieties (Prosoy and black soybean) were processed with 3 different grinding (ambient, cold, and hot grinding) and heating methods (traditional stove cooking, 1‐phase UHT, and 2‐phase UHT) for soymilk making. The results showed after cold, ambient, and hot grinding, the total isoflavones were 3917, 5013, and 5949 nmol/g for Prosoy; the total isoflavones were 4073, 3966, and 4284 nmol/g for black soybean. Grinding could significantly increase isoflavone extraction. The grinding process had a destructive effect on isoflavones and this effect varied with grinding temperature. Different heating methods had different effects on different isoflavone forms. Two soybean varieties showed distinct patterns with respect to the change of isoflavone profile during processing.     

Comparison of nutritional components (isoflavone,protein, oil,and fatty acid) and antioxidant properties at the growth stage of different parts of soybean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> (L.) Merrill]

This is the first study to investigate antioxidant capacities of isoflavones prepared using microwave-assisted hydrolysis method from different parts (seeds, leaves, leafstalks, pods, stems and roots) of soybean at growth stages. In addition, the fluctuations in the isoflavone, protein, fatty acid, and oil contents in R6-R8 (R6: beginning; R7: beginning maturity; R8: full maturity) seeds were confirmed. The R7 seeds exhibited the most predominant contents of isoflavones (1218.1±7.3 μg/g) in the following order: daidzein (48%)>genistein (35%)>glycitein (17%). The second highest isoflavone content was found in the leaves (1052.1±10.4 μg/g), followed by R8 seeds>roots>R6 seeds>leafstalks> pods; the stems exhibited the lowest isoflavone content (57.2±1.7 μg/g). Interestingly, daidzein showed the highest individual isoflavone content with remarkable variations (57.2-766.8 μg/g), representing 46-100% of the total isoflavone content. R8 exhibited higher protein, fatty acid, and oil contents than R6 or R7. Moreover, the antioxidant capacities against two radicals in different parts of soybean plant showed considerable differences depending upon the isoflavone content. Our results suggested that soybean leaves and seeds might be useful materials for functional foods.     

Isoflavone Conversion of Black Soybean by Immobilized Rhizopus spp.

Isoflavones exhibit many bioactive benefits, such as antioxidation, antimutagenic effects, and reduction of symptoms of postmenopause conditions. Aglycone forms of isoflavone have shown more biological effects over their glycosylated ones. Most isoflavones in nature, however, exist as glycosylated forms and cannot easily be absorbed in the intestines. The purpose of this study was to develop a fermentation process of black soybean to produce functional food using a Luffa cylindrical fiber biofilm reactor. Three filamentous-fungi, including Rhizopus oligosporus (BCRC 31996), Rhizopus oligosporus (NTU-5), and Rhizopus oryzae (BCRC 30894), were cultivated in black soybean medium. The assay using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of fermented broth and isoflavone aglycosylation rate of genistin and daidzin were evaluated as indicators to determine the most suitable strain. After a 2-day cultivation in flasks, DPPH radical scavenging effect of R. oligosporus NTU-5 reached 83%, which is the maximum value among three strains. R. oligosporus NTU-5 was subsequently chosen as target strain and used for the scale-up of fungal-based aerobic growth. The optimal cultivation condition obtained in a 5-L bioreactor with Luffa cylindrical fiber was 30°C, 0.1 vvm aeration, 100 rpm agitation, 10% inoculum volume, and 6% (w/v) black soybean as medium. After a 6-day cultivation, R. oligosporus NTU-5 converted isoflavones to their aglycones, daidzein and genistein, and these were 59.7 and 23.6 μM, respectively. Isoflavone aglycosylation rate of daidzin and genistin were 77.6 and 31.8%, respectively. The DPPH scavenging effect was 62%.     

Soluble phenolics and antioxidant properties of soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivars with varying seed coat colours

This research was the first to investigate nutritional components, including soluble phenolics (isoflavones and anthocyanins), protein, oil, and fatty acid as well as antioxidant activities in different coloured seed coat soybeans (yellow, black, brown, and green) for two crop years. The soluble phenolics differed significantly with cultivars, crop years, and seed coat colours, while protein, oil, and fatty acid exhibited only slight variations. Especially, malonylgenistin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside compositions had the most remarkable variations. Green soybeans had the highest average isoflavone content (3079.42 μg/g), followed by yellow (2393.41 μg/g), and black soybeans (2373.97 μg/g), with brown soybeans showing the lowest value (1821.82 μg/g). Anthocyanins showed only in black soybeans, with the average contents of the primary anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidine-3-O-glucoside, and petunidin-3-O-glucoside, quantified at 11.046, 1.971, and 0.557 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, Nogchae of green soybean and Geomjeongkong 2 of black soybean may be recommended as potential cultivars owing to the highest average isoflavone (4411.10 μg/g) and anthocyanin (21.537 mg/g) contents. The scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals also differed remarkably, depending upon isoflavone and anthocyanin contents, with black soybeans exhibiting the highest antioxidant effects.     

大豆发芽过程中维生素C、异黄酮含量变化及其抗氧化性的研究

目的研究大豆发芽期间维生素C、异黄酮及抗氧化活性的变化。方法采用2,6-二氯酚靛酚滴定法和紫外分光光度法测定大豆发芽期间不同芽长的维生素C、异黄酮含量及DPPH和超氧阴离子自由基清除率,确定大豆发芽的最佳长度。结果维生素C的含量随着发芽长度的增加而增加,当发芽长度为5 cm时,每100g大豆芽中含维生素C为120.09 mg;大豆异黄酮在芽长3 cm时达到最高值,含量比未发芽前增加了17.28%,之后呈下降趋势,但下降趋势不大;较超氧阴离子自由基,未发芽大豆提取物对DPPH自由基表现出更强的清除能力;发芽后,在芽长为4 cm时对两种自由基的清除能力最强。结论大豆发芽到4 cm时为最佳食用时间。     

Liaison of phenolic acids and biological activity of escalating cultivars of Daucus carota

The objective of the present study was to analyze and compare the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant capacities of new lines of Dacus carota. The selected cultivars showed high variation in the contents of total phenolics (30.26–65.39 mg/100 g FW) and total ascorbic acid (41.12–58.36 mg/100 g FW). Analysis on RP-HPLC revealed that hydroxycinnamic acids and its derivatives were major phenolic compounds present in D. carota extracts, whereas 5-caffeolquinic acid was a major hydroxycinnamic acid (ranged from 30.26 to 65.39 mg/100 g FW). DCP cultivar showed high total antioxidant capacity (77.69 mg/100 g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity (52.36 mg/100 g), superoxide radical scavenging capacity (53.69 mg/100 g), and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (51.91 mg/100 g). A linear relationship was found between total phenolic acid contents and antioxidant capacity. Both phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities varied significantly (ρ < 0.05) among cultivars. DCP cultivar was found to be a rich source of phenolics and ascorbic acid with high antioxidant activity.     

Enhancements of isoflavone aglycones, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of black soybean by solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus spp.

In the present study, a solid-state fermentation process of black soybean was developed. Three filamentous fungi including Rhizopus oligosporus (BCRC 31996), R. oligosporus (NTU-5), and Rhizopus oryzae (BCRC 30894) were cultivated with steam-cooked intact and dehulled black soybeans. It was found that fermentation enhanced the total phenolic and isoflavone aglycone content as well as antioxidant activity of the black soybean methanol [80 % (v/v)] extracts. Among the three candidates, R. oligosporus BCRC 31996 was chosen as the working strain, and dehulled Tainan NO.3 black soybeans were used as the substrate based on the relatively high total phenolic content, isoflavone aglycone accumulation, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of the fermented extracts. In a 6-day fermentation, extracts of the fermented dehulled black soybeans yielded higher total phenolic content (2,876.2 μg/g) which was 1.16 times of the result from the intact soybean extracts. The DPPH scavenging effect of the fermented dehulled black soybean extract reached its maximum on the third day. The activity of β-glucosidase of dehulled black soybean samples increased with time and resulted in accumulation of isoflavone aglycones. The product of solid-state black soybean fermentation serves as a functional ingredient in the products of nutritional supplements and health foods.     

Analysis of phenolic compounds and isoflavones in soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merill) and sprouts grown under different conditions

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merill) are popularly known as a healthy food in many Asian countries and are mostly consumed as soymilk, tofu, and fermented products such as miso, temph, and sufu. The objective of this study was to determine the variation and composition of phenolic compounds and isoflavone contents in soybean seeds [Glycine max (L.) Merill] and sprouts [Kongnamul] grown under dark conditions (producing yellow soybean sprouts) and in green and yellow boxes (producing green soybean sprouts). In seven soybean cultivars, the total phenolic content ranged from 6.67 μg⁻¹ in Pureunkong to 72.33 μg⁻¹ in Poongsannamulkong. The average total phenolic content in the green soybean sprouts (48.33 μg⁻¹) was higher than in the yellow soybean sprouts (29.75 μg⁻¹). The total phenolic content in the yellow soybean sprouts varied from 9.88 μg⁻¹ to 47.71 μg⁻¹, and the total phenolic content in the green soybean sprouts varied from 29.21 μg⁻¹ to 79.70 μg⁻¹. Only four phenolic compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid, were detected in all soybean cultivars. Syringic acid was not detected in yellow soybean sprouts, and myricetin was only detected in yellow soybean sprouts (4.65 μg⁻¹) from the Pureunkong cultivar grown under dark conditions. The total isoflavone content in soybean seeds ranged from 2.1 μg⁻¹ in Sowonkong to 33.0 μg⁻¹ in Pureunkong, and the mean total isoflavones was 10.61 μg⁻¹. Green soybean sprouts had higher average total isoflavones (1389.4 μg⁻¹) than yellow soybean sprouts (559.2 μg⁻¹), and the total isoflavone content was highest in the Pureunkong yellow soybean sprouts (756.3 μg⁻¹) and the Sowonkong green soybean sprouts (2791.6 μg⁻¹). In soybean sprouts, the higher the (malonyl)-daidzin or (malonyl)-genistein content, the higher the total isoflavone level. Our study suggests that producing soybean sprouts enriched in isoflavones under coloured-light sources is feasible.     

Effects of baking on cyanidin-3-glucoside content and antioxidant properties of black and yellow soybean crackers

Black soybean is a potential functional food ingredient with high anthocyanin content, but the ability to maintain anthocyanin content under dry heat processing has not been reported. This study investigated the effects of soybean seed coat colour and baking time–temperature combinations on the extractable antioxidant properties of a soy cracker food model. Crackers prepared with black soybeans had significantly higher TPC, total isoflavones, and peroxyl, hydroxyl, and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging abilities than their yellow counterparts, at all time–temperature combinations. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) was detected only in black soybean crackers, and all baking treatments significantly decreased C3G. The greatest losses occurred at the low temperature × long time and high temperature × short time, the smallest loss with moderate temperature × short/medium time. The high temperature treatment altered phenolic acid and isoflavone profiles; however, total isoflavones were unaffected. Overall results suggest that moderate baking temperature at minimal time may best preserve anthocyanin and other phenolics in baked black soybean crackers.     

Changing soybean isoflavone composition and concentrations under two different storage conditions over three years

Soybean in Asia have been consumed in various forms, including soymilk, tofu and fermented products such as miso, temph and sufu. It is popularly regarded as a healthy food, partly owing to the isoflavones contained in their seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variation of isoflavone concentration in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seeds under different storage conditions for long storage periods. Isoflavone concentrations varied from 699.7 to 2581.6 μg g⁻¹ with cropping year, and acetylglucoside groups and glycitein were only detected in small amounts or traces in the eight soybean cultivars. The Daweon cultivar showed a variation between storage at room (−2039.0 μg g⁻¹) and low temperature (−1822.0 μg g⁻¹) over three years, while the isoflavone concentration in the Hannam cultivar only varied slightly (room temperature: −91.6 μg g⁻¹, low temperature: −81.2 μg g⁻¹). With storage at room temperature, the acetylglucoside group (+7.2 μg g⁻¹) slightly increased the isoflavone concentration, while the other three groups decreased it. In particular, the malonylglucoside group (−519.0 μg g⁻¹) showed a severe decrease. In the Myeongjunamul cultivar, genistin (+105.0 μg g⁻¹) resulted in the highest increase, while malonylgenistin (−958.7 μg g⁻¹) resulted in the greatest decrease in the Daweon cultivar. With storage at low temperature, other than malonylglucoside (−438.1 g g⁻¹), the other three groups, aglycon (+11.4 μg g⁻¹), glucoside (+45.2 μg g⁻¹) and acetylglucoside (+12.8 μg g⁻¹), increased the isoflavone concentration. Genistin (+136.0 μg g⁻¹) in the Muhan cultivar showed the highest increase, and malonylgenistin (−833.4 μg g⁻¹) in the Daweon cultivar showed the greatest decrease for storage under low temperature for three years. The variation of isoflavone concentration was positively correlated with the two different storage conditions (r² = 0.33), and total isoflavones were correlated with the concentration of the malonylglucoside (r² = 0.88***) and glucoside (r² = 0.80***) groups. Our study suggests that it may be feasible to improve the preservation method of soybean isoflavones as high functional substances for longer storage periods.     

Critical Issues in R&D of Soy Isoflavone-enriched Foods and Dietary Supplements

ABSTRACT: Increasing consumer awareness of soy as a healthy food ingredient has led to a tremendous growth in sales of soy isoflavone‐enriched foods and dietary supplements in the past 3 y. Because of their weak estrogenic activity, isoflavones are believed to have preventive effects for several hormone‐dependent diseases. This article discusses some critical issues to be considered in any R&D program of novel soy and isoflavone products for the healthy‐food market, such as (1) Which isoflavone compounds should be in the product? (2) Which individual isoflavones are the most beneficial ones? (3) Can certain isoflavone groups be targeted to specific disease prevention goals? (4) Are there any safety concerns in isoflavone consumption? (5) How are isoflavones affected by thermal processing and storage? (6) How should isoflavones be analyzed? These questions may affect the choice of isoflavone source, processing conditions, quality control procedures, and marketing considerations.