Page 69 - Pharmd general phytochemistry I-Final2024_LEUCTERS

• According to Sapogenins two well known types of saponins
are distinguished

I. Steroidal saponins (27 Carbons).
II. Triterpenoidal saponins (30 Carbons).

Both types of saponins have the glycosidic linkage at position C-3.

I. Steroidal saponins

A. Diosgenin

It is a steroidal saponin genin (Sapogenin).
Source: Rhizome of various Dioscoria species.
Uses:

• As precursor in the synthesis of corticoids and the sex hormones,
due to the close structural relationship of diosgenin to
the sex hormones as shown below:

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