分析および生物分析技術ジャーナル

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Extraction of Diosgenin, a Bioactive Compound from Natural Source Dioscorea alata Var purpurae

Heena J Shah and Lele SS

Diosgenin, a commercially important bioactive sapogenin, extracted from tubers belonging to Dioscorea species, is used as a precursor in the manufacturing of sex hormones, oral contraceptives and other pharmaceutically important steroidal drugs. Diosgenin content of two Indian variety viz., D. deltoidea and D. prazeri ranges from 0.32 - 1%. With the view to commercially exploit a new source of diosgenin, a lesser explored tuber D. alata Var purpurae (purple yam), from Western Ghats, India was studied. The diosgenin content was determined from tuber (fresh and dried) and callus of D. alata by acidic hydrolysis of the glycosides and extraction with an organic solvent, followed by the HPTLC analysis. HPTLC mobile phase was optimized to toluene: ethyl acetate 7:3 v/v using the PRISMA model and diosgenin content was found to be 0.078, 0.133 and 0.048% respectively after extraction for 8 hrs in alcohol.