The present article provides comprehensive information on the species used largely as commercial steroids in India. Details regarding part(s) used, characteristics and commercial utilization of important steroid yielding plant species are given in the present communication

Kaushal, Rajesh

Singh, K. N.

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          Ethnobotanical Leaflets 11: 45-51. 2007.  Comprehensive Notes on Commercial Utilization, Characteristics and Status ofSteroid Yielding Plants in India K.N. Singh and Rajesh Kaushal College of Forestry,Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry,Solan, Nauni-173230, Himachal Pradesh, IndiaE-mail: knsingh_03@yahoo.co.in Issued 15 April 2007  AbstractThe present article provides comprehensive information on the species used largely ascommercial steroids in India. Details regarding part(s) used, characteristics and commercial utilizationof important steroid yielding plant species are given in the present communication.Keywords:  Commercial use, Steroid yielding plants. IntroductionIndia has a rich heritage of plant based drugs both for use in preventive and curativemedicines. Steroids and their related active metabolites are of great value in drug and pharmaceuticalindustry. They have numerous and diversified physiological functions and pharmacological effectssuch as influence on carbohydrate, protein, fat and purine metabolism; on electrolyte and waterbalance; on the functional capacities of the cardiovascular system viz., kidney, skeletal, muscle,nervous system and some organs and tissues.  The term steroid (= sterol like) is derived from sterol(In Greek, Stereos= solid and ol=alcohol) as most of these compounds contain alcoholic group. Allthe steroids are structurally related and mostly saturated, colourless compounds found in plants andanimals. Steroid includes a variety of compounds, among which sapogenins hold a very importantposition. Sapogenins when linked with sugar constitutes the saponins. Saponins are natural products,which have the property of forming soapy leather when shaken with water.            Production of steroid drugs is a large scale industry (Applezweig, 1962). In 1967, total worldconsumption of steroids precursors was one thousand tones, two third of which came from diosgeninand the remaining one third from the variety of miscellaneous sources. Other steroidal alkaloids thatcould become available in large quantities are tomatidine, Solasodine and Neotigogenin. Till today,more than four thousand plant species have been investigated which has resulted in the identificationof some thirty naturally occurring steroids sapogenins many of which could provide valuable sourcematerials for steroids compounds. Steroidal Sapogenin Yielding PlantsA. Diosgenin SourceS. No. Name of Plant Part used1 Allium fuscoviolacenum Bulbs2 Allium narcissifolium Bulbs3 Aspidistra elatior Under ground parts4 Balanites roxburghii Fruits and leaves5 Convallaria keisukei Under ground parts6 Costus speciosus Rhizome7 Dioscorea composita Rhizome8 Dioscorea floribunda Rhizome9 Dioscorea deltoidea Rhizome10 Dioscorea gracillima Rhizome11 Dioscorea polystachya Rhizome12 Dioscorea prazeri Rhizome13 Dioscorea sativa Rhizome14 Dioscorea septembola Rhizome15 Funkia ovata Leaves16 Kallstroemia pubescens Whole plant17 Ophiopogon japonicus Tuber18 Paris polyphyalla Tuber19 Polygonatum latifolium Leaves20 Polygonatum multiflorum Leaves21 Smilax exfelsa Leaves22 Solanum introsum Fruits23 Solanum indicum Fruits24 Tamas communis Under ground parts25 Tribulus terrestris Over ground parts26 Trigonella foenum Leaves and seeds27 Trigonella tschonoskii Under ground parts B. Solasodine SourceS.No. Name of Plant Part Used1 Solanum eleagnifolium Fruit2 Solanum jubatum Fruit3 Solanum incanum Fruit4 Solanum khasianum Fruit5 Solanum laciniatum Fruit, Leaves and stem6 Solanum mammosum Fruit7 Solanum marginatum Fruit and Leave8 Solanum platanifolium All parts9 Solanum sodomaeum Fruit, leaves and bud10 Solanum tomentosum Leaves11 Solanum trachysyphyum Fruit and Leaves12 Solanum trilobatum Fruit13 Solanum verbascifolium Fruit14 Solanum xanthocarpum FruitC. Hecogenin SourcesS.No. Name of Plant Part Used1 Agave species Leaves D. Yamogenin SourcesS.No. Name of Plant Part Used1 Asparagus officinalis Roots2 Smilax aspera Leaves3 Trigonella foenum graceum Roots and Leaves Commercially source material for steroids is only few species belonging mainly to the genusDioscorea and Solanum. Although diosgenin has been identified in other species such as Costusspeciosus, Trigonella foenum graceum and Kallstromia pubescens but there is no evidence at presentthat they would be interesting commercially, and therefore, they have not been described in detail.Efforts have been directed towards the cultivation of several Solanum species as the source materialfor the production of steroids. Genus Dioscorea, with over 600 species is widely distributed intropical world, except few species in temperate. Some of the species like Dioscorea alata andDioscorea esculenta have been cultivated for a long for their edible tubers. There are about 15species of this genus, which are known to contain steroidal sapogenins chiefly diosgenin. In theworld, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rico, India and China are the major diosgenin producing countries.Most of the world production of diosgenin today is met from Central American species mainlyDioscorea floribunda and D. composita. The total turnover of bulk steroids in the world is estimatedto be about 500 million US dollars and estimated world usage to be somewhere between 550-650tones of diosgenin. In India, Dioscorea deltoidea and D. prazeri occurring in North-West and North-East Himalayas respectively are the natural sources of diosgenin. Species Characteristics and Uses of Steroid Yielding Plants Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.It occurs throughout the North Western Himalayas extending from Kashmir and Punjabeastwards to Nepal and China at the altitude of 900-3000 meters above msl. It completes growthcycle in five years. It is an extensive climber with unarmed stem twining to the left. Leaves alternate,rhizome horizontal, scattered roots, skin light brown. Part used is rhizome and harvesting is done afterthree years during December, at dormant stage. Diosgenin varies from 2-5% on dry weight basis. Dioscorea prazeri Prain & Burkill.            The plant occurs in wet parts of Eastern Himalayas  including North Bihar, West Bengal,Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Abhore hills  upto 5500 meters and prefer well drained soils particularlyriver banks. It is a climber with smooth or slightly ridged, unarmed stem twining to the left. Leavesare alternate or rarely opposite. Part used is rhizome which is short rather stout, gray brown to nearlyblack, creeping horizontally. Diosgenin varies between 2-5% on dry weight basis. Dioscorea floribunda Mart & Gal            It was introduced in India from Central America and is now grown in parts of Karnataka,Assam and Goa. Like D. deltoidea, it is also perennial vine and life cycle goes for 1-4 years. Partused is rhizome and diosgenin content lies between 3-3.5% on dry weight basis. Two years crop isfound more economical and therefore two years old plant yield 2.5-3.0 kg rhizome. Dioscorea composita Hemsl.            It also is a native to Central America and is grown successfully under Jammu conditions inIndia. The plant is quite hardy and vigorous which completes its life cycle in 1-5 years. The highestgains in tuber growth are obtained only after 4-5 years. Average diosgenin content is 2-4% on dryweight basis. Among Dioscorea deltoidea, D. floribunda and D. composita, the later is preferred forcommercial production of diosgenin. Moreover, diosgenin obtained from its tuber has highest purity. UsesDiosgenin after converted into 16-Dehydropregnenolon acetate is most widely used as anactive ingredient in preparation of many steroid drugs, sex hormones and oral contraceptive pills.Saponins of Dioscorea are used for washing silk, wool and hair, and as fish poison.  They are alsoreported to kill lice. Cortisone prepared from these species is used in rheumatic diseases andophthalmic disorders. Dioscorea spp., which are commercial source of diosgenin, has limitations in ensuring large supplieson a sustained basis due to its restricted distribution in few localities. It becomes necessary to searchfor an alternative botanical source, which could be easily cultivated under a wide range ofagroclimatic conditions and provide the industry with the raw material at comparative price. Costusspeciosus satisfies all the criteria of such a substitute. Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm.            It is a common plant with a tuberous rhizome, distributed throughout India up to an elevationof 4000 meters amsl. It is 4-10 meters in height with large lanceolate leaves about one foot in length.Flowers are in red colour with white limbs and yellowish centers. It is often cultivated as ornamentalplant. Part used is rhizome which constitutes average diosgenin 2-4% on dry weight basis. Uses            The rhizome is edible and is used for cooking purpose and is mucilaginous without aroma. Itis rich in starch but the fibre content is high when compared with other tuber food. The rhizome isused for tonic purpose and as anthelmintic in Uttar Pradesh. Trigonella foenum graceum Linn.               An aromatic annual, about 30-60 cm tall is found wild in Kashmir, Punjab and upper gangeticplains and also cultivated in many parts of India. Seeds are the source of two steroidal sapogeninsnamely diosgenin and gitogenin. The presence of few more sapogenins including yamogenin has alsobeen reported.The seeds are used as condiment and for flavouring the food preparations. Diosgenin was firstraw material source to be used for high volume production (Djerassi, 1966) because it was availablein a readily purified form and at sufficiently high volume that was cheaply collected.Solasodine, as a nitrogen analogue of diosgenin, seems to be in a strong competitive positionwith diosgenin itself. Indeed, solasodine derived from Solanum laciniatum is reported to be the solesource of cortisone and progesterone in the USSR (Alekseenko et al.,1976). In India, Solanumkhasianum and certain other species are being cultivated for the local production of solasodine for theuse in Indian pharmaceutical industry. Solasodine occurs mainly in the genus Solanum. This genuscomprises about 2000 species distributed in the warmer regions of the world. About 22 species areendemic to India. Solanum khasianum Clarke.            It is widely distributed in the Indian sub-continent extending from sea level to 2000 metersand is reported from Khasi, Jaintia and Naga hills of Assam and Manipur and in Arunachal Pradeshup to 1850 meters. It also occurs in Sikkim, West Bengal, Orrisa, Upper Gangetic plains, lower hillsof Himalayas and in Nilgiris to an altitude of 1600 meters. It is reported from North-East, North-West, Southern as well as Central India and extends up to Burma and China.            It is a stout, much branched under shrub varying in height between 0.75m to 1.5m with almoststraight prickles, leaves ovate and lobed. Lobes triangular and prickly on both the surfaces. Theflowers are white.  The berries are yellowish or greenish. The seeds are smooth brown andcompressed. Part used is berry and solasodine content lies between 1-3% on dry weight basis. Themain limitation of this species is that it bears spines that are quite vicious. Moreover solasodine isobtained only from berries. Therefore this species is paving way for the use of Solanum laciniatumand Solanum aviculare in the commercial utilization. Soalnum laciniatum Ait.            Commonly known as Kangaroo apple and was introduced in India from Russia. It is aperennial shrub but mostly grows up to two years. It is about 2 meters in height with long trifurcateddark green leaves and purplish stem and branches. The flowers are purplish blue. Berries are borne inbunches of 5-7 with dark green colour but turn to yellowish orange colour at maturity. Seeds aresmall flat, round and brownish in colour. Part used are leaves, stem and berries. Leaves containsolasodine content to 1-3.8% and berries (unripe greenish yellow) contain 3.5-4.0% of solasodine ondry weight basis. Solanum khasianum and S. laciniatum are worth considering for foliar production ofsolasodine. Uses: Solasodine is used in production of sex hormones and oral contraceptive pills. Agave Linn.            Agave is a large genus with short stemmed half woody plant species, bearing a rosette of long,erect, pointed and fleashy leaves. In various species like A. Americana, A. cantala, A. sisalana, A.angustifolia, leaves yield a valuable fibre. Uses: Hecogenin is used for making sex hormones and oral contraceptive pills.         From the foregoing facts, it is clear that in order to establish and support a broad based steroidindustry, it is imperative to start large scale cultivation of various species like Dioscorea compositaand D. floribunda and development of high yielding verities and mutants i.e. Solanum khasianum toensure sustainable supply of source material. Acknowledgements            Authors are thankful to the Director, IHBT, for providing the facilities and Dr. Brij Lal forinspirations. Literature ConsultedAlekseenko, L.F., Laptev, Y.P. and Shain, S.S. 1976. Genetika, 12: 50-58. Anonumus, 1948. Wealth of India (Raw material). CSIR publication. Agave Vol.I (A-B), pp. 38-39. Anonymus, 1950. Wealth of India (Raw material). CSIR publication, Costus. Vol. II (C), pp. 360-361. Anonymus, 1952. Wealth of India (Raw material). CSIR publication, Dioscorea. Vol. III (D-E), pp.67-76. Anonymus, 1976. Wealth of India (Raw material). CSIR publication, Trogonella. Vol. X (S-W), pp.299-305. Anonymus, 1989. Cultivation practices of Solanum laciniatum, kangaroo apple, Inf. No.5, College ofForestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of horticulture and Forestry, Solan, 4p. Applezweig, N. 1962. Steroid drugs. McGraw- Hill, New York. Atal, C.K. and Kapur, B.M. (eds.) 1982. Cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants. RRL, Jammu,CSIR. 877p. Djerassi, C.1966. Science, 151: 1055-1061. Mahato, S.B., Ganguly, A.N. and Sahu, N.P. 1982. Steroid saponin- review article. Phytochemistry, 21 (5): 959 – 978. Mann Jay, D. 1978. Production of solasodine for the pharmaceutical industry. Advances inAgronomy, 30: 207 – 243. Marston, A. and Hostetimann, K. 1985. Plant Molluscicides- Review article. Phytochemistry, 24 (4):639 – 652. Singh, S.B. and Thakur, R.S. 1983. Recent advances in the chemistry of steroidal sapogenins andtheir genins. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 42: 319-334. Srivastava, L.J., Singh, J.M., Puri, U.K. and Rana, R.C. 1988. Medicinal and aromatic plant practices– Dioscorea deltoidea Wall. Bulletin No. M & AP-1, College of Forestry, UHF, Solan, 16p.                         

Comprehensive Notes on Commercial Utilization, Characteristics and Status of Steroid Yielding Plants in India

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Comprehensive Notes on Commercial Utilization, Characteristics and Status of Steroid Yielding Plants in India

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