diosgenin Chem.
(daɪˈɒsdʒənɪn)
[a. G. diosgenin (Tsukamoto & Ueno 1936, in Jrnl. Pharm. Soc. Japan (Trans.) LVI. 136), f. mod.L. Dios(corea (see below) + genin.]
A crystalline sapogenin, C27H42O3, obtained chiefly from Mexican yams of the genus Dioscorea and used in the preparation of steroid hormones such as cortisone.
| 1937 Chem. Abstr. XXXI. 3493 (heading) Constitution of diosgenin. 1955 Sci. Amer. Jan. 59/3 Several groups sought a route to cortisone from the abundantly available natural sterols, particularly cholesterol, ergosterol and diosgenin. 1966 New Scientist 15 Dec. 619/1 Chemists..had revolutionized steroid therapy by synthesizing progesterone from the diosgenin found in the roots of the wild Mexican yam. 1966 E. Palmer Plains of Camdeboo xvii. 275 Our Elephant's Foot is Dioscorea elephantipes (Testudinaria elephantipes), and its genus has recently leaped to fame for certain of its members—among them our Elephant's Foot—contain diosgenin from which cortisone is manufactured. |