A facile method for detection of the genuine sapogenin from a saponin extract

Effects of saponin extracts from Solanum elaeagnifotium fruits on ion uptake by clover seedlings

“…Saponins are glycoside derivatives of steroids or triterpenoids which occur in a wide variety of plants (Jones and Elliott 1969, Shany et ai. 1970, Cheeke 1971, Segal et al 1978. There exist numerous reports of the toxic effects of saponins on microorganisms, insects and mammals (Shany et al 1970, Cheeke 1971).…”

“…Ripe fruits of Solanum elaeagnifoUum collected between February and March in a field located 30 km SW from Bahia Blanca were used as the source of saponins. The material was extracted essentially by a procedure described previously for other Solanum species (Segal et al 1978). The extract was fractionated into several aliquots and stored at -2O''C until use.…”

“…Chromatography of the extract on silica gel G plates using chloroform-methanol-water (65:35:10, v/v) or butanol saturated with water as solvent systems, revealed the presence of two spots which gave positive tests with specific reagents for steroids (Stahi 1969) and upon extraction induced hemolysis of a red blood cell suspension (Jones and Elliott 1969). Total sapogenin content of the extract was determined by the Liebermann-Buchard reaction after acid hydrolysis and extraction with organic solvent (Segal et al 1978). Amounts of sapogenins equivalent to 0.29 mg diosgenin (g fruit)"' were usually found.…”