A preliminary study on the effect of germination on saponin content and composition of lentils and chickpeas.

Two cultivars of chickpeas ( Cicer arietinum) and one cultivar of lentils ( Lens culinaris) were subjected to germination in the dark for 6 days at 20°C. Soyasaponin VI, also known as soyasaponin βg, a DDMP- (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4 H-pyran-4-one-) conjugated form of soyasaponin I, was the only saponin detected in both the unprocessed and germinated seed. No significant changes in saponin content were observed for chickpeas or lentils after a 6-day germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]