Diosgenin glycoside

Paris polyphylla Smith P. quadrifolia L. Zao Xiu (Himalayan pans) (root) Alpha-paristyphnin, diosgenin glycosides, furostanol, spirostanol saponins.50-506 Antispasmodic, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, antitumor. 

Paris quadrifolia L. China Alpha-paristyphnin, diosgenin glycoside.50 Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge. 

Dioscorea batatus Decaisue Shu Yu (Yam) (root) Allantoin, arginine, d-abscisin, mannan, phytic acid, diosgenin, protein, glycosides, triterpene glucosides.48-461-462 Antitumor, sore throat, swelling, food poisoning, goiter, hernia, purulent inflammations. 

The regioselective esterification of other groups of saponins, e.g., a series of diosgenins [70], the haemolytic compound digitonin [71], and the so-called cardiac glycosides [72], have also been investigated by different groups. 

Diosgenin was accumulated in various plants mostly in Family Dioscoreae, Zingeberaceae, and Liliaceae as glycoside. It was reported by Mahato et al. [1], that 63 kinds of saponins have diosgenin as its aglycon. Diosgenin was produced commercially mosdy from rhizomes of Dioscorea spp. (5-8%) and Costus spp. (1-3%) [2]. 

Three steroidal glycosides from Paris vietnamiensis stimulated cell beating in cultured myocardiocytes. Among them, diosgenin-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosy l-( 1 —>2)-a-L-arabinofuranosy l-( 1 — 4)- 3D-glucopyrano-side was the most effective stimulant for cell beating as well as calcium uptake by the myocardial cells [185]. 

Marker s synthesis was initially based on sarsasapogenin as starting material from root extracts of the Mexican sarsaparilla plant (Smilax aristolochiaefolia), and later on diosgenin. Diosgenin is found as the 3-glycoside (dioscin) in numerous Liliaceae and Dioscoreaceae species, and may be extracted with ethanol from the air-dried rhizomes of Dioscorea tokoro, Dioscorea macrostachya, Dioscorea mexicana, Dioscorea floribunda and Dioscorea composita (Barbasco). The extract is evaporated and heated with dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to cleave the glycosidic bond. Subsequently, diosgenin is filtered off and used as such for the synthesis of steroid hormones. 

Alkaloids such as solanidine and tomatidine are related to diosgenin in terms of structure. These cholesterol-derived metabolites usually occur as the 3-(7-glycosides (e.g., sola-nine and tomatine) (Mann, 1987) (see Chapter 36). 

Saponins lower the surface tension of aqueous solutions and (like soaps) cause the formation of stable foams. They increase the permeability of ceU membranes. Hence they are poisonous to animals if ingested and due to their bitter taste may deter potential predators (E 5.5.3). The 3-0-glycosides of diosgenin, e.g.,... 

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