Isolation of Ruscogenin from Ruscus alexandrinus Cladophylls By M. S. B e d o u r and M. B. E. F a y e z This is a further contribution to a programme organised with the object of prospecting for steroid sapogenins in local flora1. T h e home of these rare natural products which form the foundation of modern steroid hormone industry, are Dioscorea, Agave, Furcraea and Yucca species. There have been, however, sporadic reports on the occurrence of steroid sapogenins in species belonging to other genera. So far, only diosgenin and hecogenin have been utilised in industry for the production of pregnane derivatives as intermediates towards the synthesis of diverse hormones. With the advent of the modern ,modifiedc hormones, where unsaturation and substitution of various groups at different nuclear centres (F r i e d and B o r m a n 1958) became characteristic features, it may be appreciated that the natural steroid sapogenins which already contain or can readily afford such modified features, might find acceptance as more attractive starting materials. One of these highly desirable features is the ethylenic bond in the 1:2 position now known to be responsible for the exceptional efficacy of a range of modified cortisones and hydrocortisones. T h e introduction of this extra double bond takes a several-step sequence of reactions and might also be effected microbiologically. T h e presence, therefore, of a hydroxyl group at the 1-position would a t once spell a potential ethylenic bond in the desired position. A steroid sapogenin possessing such attractive feature had not been known until the isolation (L a p i n and S a n n i k 1955) and elaboration of the constitution (L a p i n 1957) of ruscogenin, 25-D-spirost-5-ene-10, 38-diol. Ruscogenin pos-' sesses a n additional advantageous structural feature, namely, the 5:6-ethylenic linkage which, like that in diosgenin, facilitates the introduction of the ring-A afi-unsaturated ketone grouping. W h e have been able to demonstrate the presence of ruscogenin in a common plant, Ruscus alexandrin,us (Liliaceae). T h e ,leavesu or rather the cladophylls or modified stems of Ruscus alexandrinus M o t t e , syn. R. hypoglossum and R. hypophyllum L., grown in Egypt as a popular ornamental plant (T a c k h o l m 1954), have a n age-old and seemingly established value in the treatment of piles or haemorrhoids. A decoction of the cladophylls in vegetable oils is a common prescription in Egyptian folk medicine.. T h e plant found official recognition Previous communication, Steroid Sapogenins. VII., js submitted for publication, J. Pharm. Sc.
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