Effects of different storage conditions on steroidal saponinsin yam (Dioscorea pseudojaponica Yamamoto) tubers

Effect of storage on steroidal saponins, furostanol and spirostanol glycosides, in yam (D. pseudojaponica Yamamoto) tubers was determined. Unpeeled and vacuum-sealed peeled tubers were stored at -18, 4, 17 and 25 °C from 5 to 80 days separately. Furostanol glycosides in unpeeled tubers could be converted by furostanol glycoside 26-O-β-glucosidase (F26G) to spirostanol glycosides after 4 °C storage for 35 days (chilling injury could be found), or 17 and 25 °C storage for 50 days. The conversion increased with storage times. Peeled tubers stored at 17 and 25 °C for 5 days could experience organoleptic injury, which would enlarge with increasing storage period. After 35 days of storage, large part of vacuum-sealed tubers transformed to juice with stench. In the early 20 days storage, saponins in these tubers were lost rapidly. F26G activity in decreasing order was 25 °C > 17 °C > 4 °C and could be inhibited under vacuum.