Soybean

Crop plant of the legume family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae), subfamily Faboideae, see soybean. It is related to the common bean, peas, lentils, lipins and peanuts.

The soybean is an oil plant with a high content of protein, lecithin and oils. Usually the oil is extracted first, the remaining mass (soya extraction meal or soya cake) is used as animal feed, but is also used as a meat and milk substitute (cow's milk allergy) in the form of soya milk. Soya products are contained in many foods. Fresh green pods ("pods") or various protein products (tofu and soy sauce) are used for direct human consumption.

Soya oil is contained in the following preparations in medical exteriors
:Balneum Hermal®, Oil Bath Cordes®, Oleobal®, Sulfo Oil Bath Cordes®, furthermore in the recipe of a paraffin soya oil bath monographed by the NRF (NRF 11.97.).

Various soy extracts and soy components are used in cosmetic formulations:

• Glycine soy sterol, a mixture of different phytosterols from the soybean.
• Glycine soy flour is the finely ground soy flour obtained from soya beans.
• Glycine soja germ extract the extract from the seedlings of the soybean.
• Glycine soya oil unsaponifiables a soya oil that remains as an "unsaponifiable " residue when the soya bean fatty acids are saponified.
• Glycine soja sprout extract, the extract from the sprouts of the soybean.
• Glycine soy sterol a mixture of various phytosterols from the soybean.
• Various soybean oils

Serine protease inhibitors are found in the extract of soybeans which are said to have a skin lightening potential (anti-aging). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, a lightening effect could be achieved with a soy cream. see under soy plant

1. Wallo W et al (2007) Efficacy of a soy moisterizer in photoaging: a double-blind, vehicle-controlled, 12-week study. J Drugs Dermatol 6: 917-922