Diosgenin: Recent Highlights on Pharmacology and Analytical Methodology

Abstract

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, occurs abundantly in plants such as Dioscorea alata, Smilax China, and Trigonella 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.

Potato Glycoalkaloids: occurrence, biological activities and extraction for biovalorisation – a review

“…Diosgenin is found abundantly in Dioscorea plants (e.g. wild yam) and revealed high potential and interest in the treatment of various cancers (Jesus et al ., ). Thus, it became interesting to assess the activities of these chemically closer glycoalkaloids to this compound.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Diosgenin and Its Major Derivatives against Neurological Diseases: Recent Advances

“…Despite its pharmacological activities in the treatment of various diseases, the clinical application of DG is severely hindered by its low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, and rapid biotransformation under physiological conditions [28]. Several recent reviews have provided a comprehensive account of its pharmacological effects in cancer [18], diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome [29], and others [24,30]. In this review, we will discuss recent progress of DG as a therapeutic agent against various neurological diseases along with its mechanisms of action in CNS.…”

Diosgenin, an Activator of 1,25D3-MARRS Receptor/ERp57, Attenuates the Effects of TNF-α by Causing ADAM10-Dependent Ectodomain Shedding of TNF Receptor 1

“…Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin abundant in plants from the genus Dioscorea, Costus and Smilax species [1]. It has a structural similarity with steroid hormones and can be chemically converted, for example, into progesterone, estradiol and cortisone [2].…”

“…In the past and even nowadays, it was used as a base material for making synthetic steroids [2]. In the preclinical studies, however, diosgenin itself exhibited diverse beneficial pharmacological effects [1]. In particular, it has anti-inflammatory effects and was found to have protective effect on aortic atherosclerosis in an animal model [3].…”