Steroidal Sapogenins. IV.¹ Hydrolysis of Steroidal Saponins²

Biological and Phytochemical Screening of Plants

“…On the other hand, terpenoid and steroidal saponins act similarly in this respect and CdnnOt be difrerentiated on this basis alone. Wall et al (a%), Walens et al (587), and Rotliman et al (588) have dcvcloped standard procedures which have been successfully used by many investigators for the detection and estimation of steroidal sapogenins, and which differentiate triterpenoid from steroidal types. Thc proccdure involves (a) hemolytic detection of saponins in the plant extract (585), ( b ) isolation of crude sapogenins following hydrolysis (585), and (c) subjecting the crude sapogcnin acetates to infrared (58.5) or ultraviolet (587) spectral analysis.…”

“…Thc proccdure involves (a) hemolytic detection of saponins in the plant extract (585), ( b ) isolation of crude sapogenins following hydrolysis (585), and (c) subjecting the crude sapogcnin acetates to infrared (58.5) or ultraviolet (587) spectral analysis. Initially, the extraction procedure eliminates to a great degree the starch, sugars, and protein which, if present, would produce troublesome tars as a result of the acid hydrolysis (588). The presence of these niaterials in the extract would necessitate larger amounts of acid, with subsequent destiuction of some sapogenin.…”

“…The presence of these niaterials in the extract would necessitate larger amounts of acid, with subsequent destiuction of some sapogenin. It lids been determined by using the recommended extraction procedure (585), that 2 N HCl in alcohol at reflux temperature or 0.5 N HCl under pressure will completely hydrolyze saponins (584,588). Characteristic infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectra of the hydrolysates then serve to indicate whether the saponins causing hernolysis in the sample are steroidal or tritcrpenoid.…”