Diosgenin and galactomannans, natural products in the pharmaceutical sciences

Background Diosgenin is an isospirostane derivative, which is a steroidal sapogenin and the product of acids or enzymes hydrolysis process of dioscin and protodioscin. Galactomannans are heteropolysaccharides composed of D-mannose and D-galactose, which are major sources of locust bean, guar, tara and fenugreek. Methods Literature survey was accomplished using multiple databases including PubMed, Science Direct, ISI web of knowledge and Google Scholar. Results Four major sources of seed galactomannans are locust bean (Ceratonia siliqua), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), tara (Caesalpinia spinosa Kuntze), and fenugreek (T.foenum-graecum). Diosgenin has effect on immune system, lipid system, inflammatory and reproductive systems, caner, metabolic process, blood system, blood glucose and calcium regulation. The most important pharmacological benefits of galactomannan are antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, anticholinesterase, antiviral activities, and appropriate for dengue virus and gastric diseases. Conclusions Considering the importance of diosgenin and galactomannans, the obtained findings suggest potential of diosgenin and galactomannans as natural products in pharmaceutical industries.

VARIASI KANDUNGAN GIZI DIOSCOREA HISPIDA YANG BERASAL DARI BALI DAN LOMBOK SERTA KERAGAMAN GENETIKNYA BERDASARKAN PCR SSCP

Dioscorea hispida atau yang lebih dikenal dengan nama Gadung adalah salah satu jenis tumbuhan dari suku Dioscoreaceae. Umbi Dioscorea memiliki peran yang unik dalam masyarakat baik sebagai bahan pangan, maupun obat tradisional. Kandungan karbohidrat dan protein yang tinggi dari Dioscorea menjadikannya salah satu bahan pangan alternatif. Umbi D. hispida dapat dikonsumsi, dijadikan keripik atau makanan olahan pengganti nasi setelah diolah terlebih dahulu. Umbi dari D. hispida diketahui beracun karena mengandung alkaloid, karena itu sering dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat sebagai bahan insektisida dan rodentisida alami. Selain itu umbi Dioscorea dapat pula dimanfaatkan sebagai obat salah satunya karena memiliki kandungan steroidal sapogenin. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui variasi kandungan gizi D. hispida yang berasal dari beberapa wilayah di Pulau Bali dan Lombok, serta untuk mengetahui apakah terdapat variasi genetika pada D. hispida yang mungkin dipengaruhi oleh adanya perbedaan tempat tumbuh pada kedua pulau tersebut. Dari hasil penelitian yang dilakukan dapat disimpulkan bahwa perbedaan tempat tumbuh tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap kualitas kandungan gizi D. hispida. Perbedaan tempat tumbuh hanya berpengaruh terhadap kandungan kalsium oksalat, dimana kandungan kalsium oksalat D. hispida yang berasal dari Bali nyata lebih rendah dibandingkan dengan yang berasal dari Lombok. Hasil uji lanjutan pada level Provinsi menunjukkan bahwa kadar kalsium oksalat dari Bali Timur lebih rendah dari Bali Barat dan Utara. DNA kloroplast trnL-trnF dan DNA inti pgiC yang diuji tidak menunjukkan adanya variasi sekuensnya.

SAPONINS AND SAPOGENINS OF AGAVE WITH RESPECT TO DIVERSE PHARMACOLOGICAL ROLE OF HECOGENIN

The review outlines the current understandings of saponins and sapogenins in agave species with special focus on pharmacological role of hecogenin in numerous preclinical studies. A systematic literature survey was done on the pharmacological activities of hecogenin during the past 40 y with electronic databases like PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. Hecogenin, a steroidal sapogenin found abundantly in the leaves of Agave genus species such as, Agave sisalana, Agave cantala, Agave aurea and many more. This phytosteroid (hecogenin) is used as initial material for the synthesis of steroidal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. Hecogenin has exhibited potential role in the management of a number of disorders such as inflammation, arthritis, cancer, gastric ulcer, cardiotonic and larvicidal activity. In this review, we have summarized the saponins and sapogenins present in the Agave species and pharmacological roles of hecogenin with their mechanism of action.

Effect of diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, on the rat skeletal system.

Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin present in fenugreek and Dioscorea spp. as glycosides (saponins). Diosgenin has already been reported to inhibit osteoclastogenesis and to stimulate osteogenic activity of osteoblastic cells in vitro, and to exert some antiosteoporotic effects in rats in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of diosgenin administration on the skeletal system of rats with normal estrogen level and with estrogen deficiency induced by bilateral ovariectomy. The experiments were carried out on 3-month-old non-ovariectomized and ovariectomized Wistar rats, divided into control rats and rats receiving diosgenin (50 mg/kg p.o. daily) for 4 weeks. Serum bone turnover markers, bone mass and mineralization, histomorphometric parameters and mechanical properties were studied. Diosgenin improved some investigated parameters in both non-ovariectomized and ovariectomized rats, in which estrogen deficiency induced osteoporotic changes. Diosgenin increased compact bone formation and probably inhibited cancellous bone resorption, which led to improvement of mechanical properties of compact and cancellous bone. In conclusion, this in vivo study demonstrated that diosgenin may be one of sparse compounds increasing bone formation.

Diosgenin: Recent Highlights on Pharmacology and Analytical Methodology

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, occurs abundantly in plants such asDioscorea alata,Smilax China,andTrigonella foenum graecum. This bioactive phytochemical not only is used as an important starting material for the preparation of several steroidal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, but has revealed also high potential and interest in the treatment of various types of disorders such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, inflammation, and several types of infections. Due to its pharmacological and industrial importance, several extraction and analytical procedures have been developed and applied over the years to isolate, detect, and quantify diosgenin, not only in its natural sources and pharmaceutical compositions, but also in animal matrices for pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological studies. Within these, HPLC technique coupled to different detectors is the most commonly analytical procedure described for this compound. However, other alternative methods were also published. Thus, the present review aims to provide collective information on the most recent pharmacological data on diosgenin and on the most relevant analytical techniques used to isolate, detect, and quantify this compound as well.