Diosgenin

Diosgenin, a phytosteroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes  of saponins, extracted from the  tubers of Dioscorea wild yam, such as the Kokoro. The sugar-free (aglycone) product of such hydrolysis, diosgenin is used for the commercial synthesis of cortisone, pregnenolone, progesterone, and other steroid products.

Sources
It is present in detectable amounts in Costus speciosus, Smilax menispermoidea, species of Paris, Aletris, Trigonella, and Trillium, and in extractable amounts many species of Dioscorea – D. althaeoides, colletti, composita, floribunda, futschauensis, gracillima, hispida, hypoglauca, mexicana, nipponica, panthaica, parviflora, septemloba,Helicteres isora and zingiberensis.

Industrial uses 
Diosgenin is a precursor for several hormones, starting with the Marker degradation process, which includes synthesis of progesterone. The process was used in the early manufacturing of combined oral contraceptive pills.

References

External links
 

Category:Estrogens
Category:Hormonal contraception
Category:Progestogens

Category:Spiro compounds
Category:Steroids
Category:Tetrahydrofurans
Category:Tetrahydropyrans