Dioscorea Belizensis Lundell as A Source of Diosgenin

Abstract

Twenty-nine species of wild Dioscorea from British Honduras were screened for saponins. The tubers of D. belizensis Lundell afforded yields of steroids of about 2 per cent of the dry weight, calculated as the acetate of the predominant genin, diosgenin. A routine assay for diosgenin in these tubers is given and the effects of comminution, chemical disintegration, fermentation, refrigeration, autoclaving, and drying of the tubers are described. The yield is controlled by an endogenous enzyme system.