Question

........ are group of tural products possessing the property of producing lather or foam when shaken with water.

• A. Phytates
• B. Isoflavonoids
• C. Saponins
• D. Haemagglutinins

Hint:

Remember the soap-like quality of Saponins (*sapo* = soap).
This property is also utilized in industries for making tural detergents, fire extinguisher foams, and emulsifying agents.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Many plants produce secondary metabolites that possess distinct physical and chemical properties.
Some of these compounds act as tural surfactants due to their amphiphilic molecular structures.
Key Principle:
The word "saponin" is derived from the Latin word *sapo*, meaning soap, reflecting the soap-like foaming properties of these molecules when dissolved in water.

Step 2: Detailed Explation:
Saponins are a structurally diverse group of glycosides found in many plant species, particularly legumes (such as soybeans, chickpeas, and alfalfa).
Chemically, a saponin molecule consists of a hydrophilic sugar moiety (glycone) linked to a hydrophobic lipid-soluble terpenoid or steroidal nucleus (aglycone or sapogenin).
This amphiphilic structure allows saponins to lower the surface tension of water, facilitating the stabilization of air-water interfaces.
When an aqueous solution of saponins is agitated or shaken, it forms a persistent, stable lather or foam.
On the other hand, Phytates are cyclic polyols used for phosphorus storage; Isoflavonoids are polyphenolic phytoestrogens; and Haemagglutinins are proteins (lectins) that agglutite red blood cells.
None of these other groups possess surfactant or foaming properties.

Step 3: Fil Answer
Saponins are the class of tural glycosides that produce stable foam and lather when shaken with water.