The seeds of different legumes (Lupinus albus var. Multolupa, Lens cul
inaris var. Magda 20, Cicer arietinum type Kabuli, Phaseolus vulgaris
var. Guerniquesa, Vicia faba var. Alameda) were analysed for soyasapon
in content and soyasapogenol composition using different chromatograph
ic techniques. The soyasapogenol was present in all species, except in
L. albus; the content ranged from 0.02 mg/g in V. faba var. Alameda t
o 1.21 mg/g in P. vulgaris var. Guerniquesa. Two soyasaponins were det
ected by FAB-MS. Soyasaponin I was detected in the L. culinaris, C. ar
ietinum, V. faba and P. vulgaris extracts and soyasaponin V in the P.
vulgaris extracts.