The steroid
diosgenin extracted from the plant is a crucial element in the production of hormones which contributes to the maturity process of the fish.
Diosgenin was extracted and purified as reported previously.
Steroidal sapogenins such as
diosgenin, obtainable by hydrolysis of their corresponding saponin molecules, are used by the pharmaceutical industry as raw materials for the synthesis of oral contraceptives and other classes of steroid drugs (Hardman, 1987).
Diosgenin is specifically implicated to increase breastmilk production.
The plant contains saponins; these are glycosides, such as
diosgenin, dioscin and dioscorin, and are used in the manufacture of steroids.
Jemiola-Rzeminaska et al., "Structural effects of the Solanum steroids solasodine,
diosgenin and solanine on human erythrocytes and molecular models of eukaryotic membranes," Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)--Biomembranes, vol.
Lau, "Structure characterization of haemostatic
diosgenin glycosides from Paris polyphylia " Phytochemistry, vol.
The most important steroidal saponins are
diosgenin and yamogenin.