PROCEDURE FOR QUANTIFYING THE TOTAL CONTENT OF SAPONINS IN A SAMPLE, ESPECIALLY IN A COMPLEXED SAMPLE

Abstract

The present application concerns a process for determining the total saponin content of a sample, which includes at least the following steps:(1) carrying out a reaction, by adding to said sample, which is dissolved in at least one solvent, p-anisaldehyde and sulfuric acid, where the sulfuric acid is present in an amount of from 40% to 55% of the reaction mixture,(2) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of from 45°C to 75°C,(3) measuring the absorbance of the solution of the obtained chromophore at a wavelength of from 580 nm to 610 nm,(4) producing a series of standard saponin solutions, under the reaction conditions of steps (1) and (2), whose absorbances, following the reaction with a chromogen, are obtained at the wavelength defined in step (3),(5) quantifying the content of the sample in saponins,by comparing the absorbance of the chromophore solution measured in step (3) to the series of absorbances of the standard solutions created in step (4). It also relates to a process for determining the content of steroidal saponins, using an absorbance measurement at 425 nm. The present application is intended in particular for the sectors of the agri-food industry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, in particular for the human and animal nutrition industry.,