Diosgenin: an important natural pharmaceutical active ingredient

Abstract

Diosgenin is a steroidal saponin isolated from dioscorea opposita, which has been proven to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and immune system modulating effects in a large number of pharmacological tests. Diosgenin is also one of the important raw materials for the synthesis of steroidal drugs, and structural modification of diosgenin to obtain diosgenin derivatives can not only improve the solubility and dissolution, but also enhance their pharmacological effects. This paper reviews the synthetic reactions, pharmacological effects of diosgenin and its derivatives, aiming to provide detailed information for the further development and application of diosgenin, which is important to improve the utilization value of diosgenin.

In vitro Evaluation of Fungal Susceptibility and Inhibition of Virulence by Diosgenin

“…It is abundant in species such as Rhizoma polgonati, Smilax china, Dioscorea villosa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Dioscorea zingibar-ensis, Dioscorea villosa, Solanum incanum, Solanum xantcarpum, among other species with medicinal values widely distributed around the world. [12][13][14][15] It originates mainly from dioscin saponin through the hydrolysis method, however, other methods of obtaining it have gained more attention, such as microbial transformation, which is a very specific method, are low cost and environmentally safe. [13] Diosgenin is a phytochemical that has gained prominence due to its usefulness in the treatment of various diseases, such as nervous system disorders [16] cardiovascular diseases, [17] cancer, [18,19] inflammation, [20] arthritis [21] and antimicrobial activity.…”

“…Diosgenin (3β‐hydroxy‐5‐spirostene) is a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin, belonging to the spirostane class, it has been found abundantly in species belonging to the families Rhamnaceae, Liliaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Solanaceae, Leguminosae, and Agavaceae. It is abundant in species such as Rhizoma polgonati , Smilax china , Dioscorea villosa , Trigonella foenum‐graecum , Dioscorea zingibarensis , Dioscorea villosa , Solanum incanum , Solanum xantcarpum , among other species with medicinal values widely distributed around the world [12–15] . It originates mainly from dioscin saponin through the hydrolysis method, however, other methods of obtaining it have gained more attention, such as microbial transformation, which is a very specific method, are low cost and environmentally safe [13] …”