Extraction of Sapogenins from Edible Seeds by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Saponins Followed by Microwave-Assisted Acid Hydrolysis and Subsequent Identification/Quantification by GC-MS

Sapogenin are aglycones or non-saccharide moieties of saponins. Sapogenins have been isolated in various plant species and their biological activities have been extensively described in the scientific literature. Therefore, these natural compounds are of great interest for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. The protocol described in this chapter outlines a complete and effective method to extract sapogenins from edible seeds using ultrasound-assisted extraction of saponins followed by acid hydrolysis and their identification/quantification by GC-MS. While this protocol has demonstrated its ability to maximize sapogenin extraction efficiency, minimizing both extraction and analysis time, it is important to acknowledge that optimization experiments may be required to determine specific conditions for different plant species and achieve the desired extraction efficiency.