Steroidal saponin and steroidal sapogenin in Chinese Dioscorea L.

There are twenty-one compounds of steroidal sapogenins in Chinese Dioscorea L.,the type of 3β-hydroxy sapogenin exists in most species,only a few species contain the type of 3α-hydroxy sapogenin. Fifty-nine compounds of steroidal saponin are separated from thirteen species of Chinese Dioscorea,and which can be divided into four types.Seventeen species belonging to Sect.Stenophora of Dioscorea contain steroidal sapogenin(mostly diosgenin).Based on consulting the literatures,constituents of steroidal sapogenins and steroidal saponins in different species of Dioscorea and chemical structures of these compounds are summarized and reviewed.