Production and biological activity of saponins and canavanine in alfalfa seedlings.

The saponin and canavanine concentrations and pattern were analyzed in growing alfalfa seedlings (Medicago sativa L.). Accumulation of saponins and canavanine was found to follow different time courses. During the first eight days, saponin concentration rose from zero in alfalfa seeds to 8.7% in roots and 1.8% in shoots on eighth day and then slowly decreased to 7.6% in roots and 0.8% in shoots present on the 24th day. Canavanine was found in seeds at a concentration of 1 % then increased to 3.2% in seedlings on the sixth day and rapidly decreased to 0.2% per dry mass in roots and shoots on the 24th day. The effect of saponins-medicagenic acid sodium salt and medicagenic acid glycosides-on the growth ofAmaranthus andLepidium in Petri dishes and tomato (Lycopersicon) cell growth in tissue culture also was investigated. In contrast to medicagenic acid glycosides, a very strong inhibition of plant and cell growth was found as an effect of medicagenic acid.