Steroidal Saponins from the Seeds of Chinese Trigonella foenum-graecum L

Abstract

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek, leguminosae), which is an annual herb, has been widely cultivated in China, and the seeds of this plant have long been known as a traditional medicine used for tonic and stomachic purpose [1]. Previous pharmacological research on fenugreek seeds revealed their potential bioactivities of anti-diabetes and anti-lipemia. The steroidal saponins, which are the principle constituents of fenugreek seeds, could significantly induce hypoglycaemia and hypocholesterolemia [2]. According to our studies, fenugreek seeds abound in furostanol saponins, but few spirostanol saponins exsit in these seeds. Due to our structure-activity relationship research, the spirostanol saponins are more active than the corresponding furostanol saponins on antifungal activity and platelet aggregation [3, 4]. Thus, we converted the furostanol saponins of fenugreek seeds to the spirostanol saponins by enzymatic hydrolysis with β-gucosidase. The obtained total spirostanol saponins presented significant antifungal property.