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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 species, such as the Kokoro. It is also present in smaller amounts in a number of other species. 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'', '' Helicteres isora'', species of ''Paris'', '' Aletris'', '' Trigonella'', and ''Trillium'', and in extractable amounts from many species of '' Dioscorea'' – '' D. althaeoides'', '' D. colletti'', '' D. composita'', '' D. floribunda'', '' D. futschauensis'', '' D. gracillima'', '' D. hispida'', '' D. hypoglauca'', '' D. mexicana'', '' D. nipponica'', '' D. panthaica'', '' D. parviflora'', '' D. septemloba'', and '' D. zingiberensis''. Industrial u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Progesterone
Progesterone (; P4) is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the major progestogen in the body. Progesterone has a variety of important functions in the body. It is also a crucial metabolic intermediate in the production of other endogenous steroids, including the sex hormones and the corticosteroids, and plays an important role in brain function as a neurosteroid. In addition to its role as a natural hormone, progesterone is also used as a medication, such as in combination with estrogen for contraception, to reduce the risk of Uterine cancer, uterine or cervical cancer, in hormone replacement therapy, and in feminizing hormone therapy. It was first prescribed in 1934. Biological activity Progesterone is the most important progestogen in the body. As a potent agonist of the progesterone receptor, nu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dioscorea Composita
''Dioscorea composita'', or barbasco, is a species of yam in the family '' Dioscoreaceae''. It is native to Mexico. It is notable for its role in the production of diosgenin, which is a precursor for the synthesis of hormones such as progesterone. Russell Marker developed the extraction and manufacture of hormones from ''D. mexicana'' at Syntex, starting the trade of ''D. composita'' in Mexico. Marker also discovered that the ''composita'' variety had a much higher content of diosgenin than the ''mexicana'' variety, and therefore it came to replace the latter in the production of synthetic hormones. Chemical constituents Steroidal sapogenin, diosgenin. Medicinal use It is a source of diosgenin, which is used to prepare synthetic hormones such as progesterone and cortisone. Diosgenin extracted from ''Dioscorea composita'' was instrumental in the development of the combined oral contraceptive pill in the 1960s – and also for the development of cortisone treatments of art ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phytosteroid
Phytosteroids, also known as plant steroids, are natural product, naturally occurring steroids that are found in plants. Examples include digoxin, digitoxin, diosgenin, and guggulsterone, as well as phytosterols like β-sitosterol. Industrial use Steroid pharmaceuticals that are identical or similar to human steroid hormones are very widely used in medicine. However, the four-ring structure of a steroid is quite expensive to replicate using direct synthetic methods. In 1938–1940, American chemist Russell Earl Marker developed the process known as Marker degradation, which converts diosgenin from Mexican ''Dioscorea'' yams into 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate, which has a four-ring structure and can be used to synthesize commonly used steroid hormones. Marker's process reduced the price of progesterone from $80/gram in early 1944 to $2/gram in 1951. Also in 1940, American chemist Percy Lavon Julian discovered a process to convert a much more abundant phytosteroid -- stigmast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dioscorea Zingiberensis
''Dioscorea zingiberensis'', is a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable. It has been cultivated in China for the production of diosgenin,Liu, L., Dong, Y., 375 Xiu, Z., 2010. Three-liquid-phase extraction of diosgenin and steroidal saponins from fermentation of ''Dioscorea zingibernsis'' C.H. Wright. Process Biochemistry 45, 752–756. an important pharmaceutical intermediate for the synthesis of steroid hormones. The rhizomes also produces steroidal saponins (TSS) as part of a treatment for cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina, heart attack), heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumati .... References zingiberensis {{Dioscoreales-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dioscorea Floribunda
''Dioscorea floribunda'', the medicinal yam or mule's-hoof, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dioscoreaceae. It is found from central Mexico to northern Central America. It is grown commercially for its 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 species, such as the Kokoro. It is also present in smaller amounts in a num ... content. References floribunda Medicinal plants of Central America Flora of Southwestern Mexico Flora of Central Mexico Flora of Southeastern Mexico Flora of Guatemala Flora of Belize Flora of El Salvador Flora of Honduras Plants described in 1842 Taxa named by Henri Guillaume Galeotti Taxa named by Martin Martens {{medicinal-plant-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dioscorea Mexicana
''Dioscorea mexicana'', Mexican yam or ''cabeza de negro'' is a species of Yam (vegetable), yam in the genus ''Dioscorea''. ''Dioscorea mexicana'' is a caudiciform dioscorea having either a partly to completely above-ground dome-shaped caudex with a thick, woody outer layer up to 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter and 8–10 inches (20 to 25 cm) in height. The caudex of ''D. mexicana'' is divided into regular polygonal plates that become protuberant with age, and separated by deep fissures. The vigorous annual vines which may reach 30 feet (9 m) long before dying back in winter, that grow up from the caudex, bear heart-shaped leaves. ''Dioscorea mexicana'' ranges from the state of San Luis Potosí in northeastern Mexico south to Panama. It is notable for its production of diosgenin, which is a Precursor (chemistry), precursor for the synthesis of hormones such as progesterone. Russell Marker developed the extraction and manufacture of hormones from ''D. mexicana'' at Synte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Costus Speciosus
''Cheilocostus speciosus'', or crêpe ginger, is a species of flowering plant in the family Costaceae. Some botanists have now revived the synonym '' Hellenia speciosa'' for this species. It is native to southeast Asia and surrounding regions, from India to China to Queensland, It is especially common on the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is also reportedly naturalised in Puerto Rico, Mauritius, Réunion, Fiji, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the West Indies. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental. Description ''Cheilocostus speciosus'' and other members of the Costaceae differ from gingers by having only one row of spirally arranged leaves. The species reproduces vegetatively by rhizome, and birds disperse the seeds when they feed on the fruits. The flowers have only two stamens, one is functional, with a single locule, while the other is petaloid, forming a white, bell-shaped trumpet around the fertile one. The true petals, also white, are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dioscorea
''Dioscorea'' is a genus of over 600 species of flowering plants in the family Dioscoreaceae, native throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. The vast majority of the species are tropical, with only a few species extending into temperate climates. It was named by the monk Charles Plumier after the ancient Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides. Description They are tuberous herbaceous perennial lianas, growing to or more tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, mostly broad heart-shaped. The flowers are individually inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, with six petals; they are mostly dioecious, with separate male and female plants, though a few species are monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same plant. The fruit is a capsule in most species, a soft berry in a few species. Most ''Dioscorea'' species that have been examined possess extrafloral nectaries at the petiole or leaf underside. Cultivation and uses Several species, known as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
