Review Article

Diosgenin: Recent Highlights on Pharmacology and Analytical Methodology

Table 1

Analytical methodologies in different specimens for diosgenin determinations by means of HPLC and UHPLC.

MatrixSample amountExtraction processChromatographic conditionsInstrumental analysisLinear rangeLOD/LOQReferences

Dioscorea species and related medicinal plants (Smilax and Heterosmilax species)0.5 g15 mL of methanol at room temperature for 0.5 h
Hydrolysis with HCl 10% under vacuum at 60°C
LLE (10 mL of chloroform)
Mobile phase: 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (B) using an isocratic elution of 82% (B) in 0–10 min. Flow rate at 0.3 mL/min Column temperature: 40°C
Stationary phase: Waters BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm)
HPLC-DAD at 203 nm
UPLC-MicroToFQ (ESI+)
1–500 μg mL−10.3/0.8 ng mL−1[117]

Root extracts and polyherbal formulations containing Smilax China10 gSPE (Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol)HPTLC
Mobile phase:
toluene : ethyl acetate (7 : 3% v/v)
HPLC
Mobile phase:
acetonitrile : water 90 : 10 (% v/v)
HPTLC and HPLC with densitometry: 425 nm
2.0–10 μg mL−10.7/2 μg mL−1[118]

Berries extracts and formulations containing Solanum nigrum20 gLLE with 20% of H2SO4 in 70% IPA and hexane for 8 hMobile phase: acetonitrile : water 92 : 08 (% v/v). Flow rate at 1.0 mL/min Column temperature: 25°C
Stationary phase: C18 Thermo Hypersil column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPLC-DAD at 203 nm1.0–60 μg mL−10.33/1.0 μg mL−1[119]

Cultured cells of Dioscorea zingiberensis0.1 g20 mL of 95% ethanol, for 2 h. Hydrolysis with 20 mL H2SO4 1 M at 121°C for 2 h. LLE with petroleum ether. The combined petroleum and NaOH 1 M.
Mobile phase: acetonitrile : water 90 : 10 (% v/v) Flow rate at 1.0 mL/min Column temperature: 30°C
Stationary phase: reversed-phase Agilent TC-C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPLC-DAD at 203 and 410 nm0.0625–1.000 μg0.0372/0.1127 μg[93]

Cosmeceutical formulations2.5 gLLE with 10 mL of methanol mixed with 50% of tetrahydrofuranMobile phase: water : acetonitrile 15 : 85 (% v/v)
Column temperature: room temperature
Stationary phase: Phenomenex Luna-C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPLC-DAD at 210 nm50–1000 μg mL−110/30 μg mL−1[120]

Seed extract of Trigonella foenum graecum1 gSPE (Soxhlet with water and ethanol mixture (1 : 1) for 72 h at 70°C). 80 mL of HCl 3 N for 1 h at 100°C. LLE with diethyl etherMobile phase: acetonitrile : water (10 : 90 v/v) gradient mode. Flow rate at 1.0 mL/min. Column temperature: 30°C
Stationary phase: reversed-phase Symmetry C8 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPTLC and HPLC-DAD at 205 nm[100]

Pharmaceutical forms containing Trigonella foenum graecum0.01 g25 mL of methanol for 15 minMobile phase: acetonitrile : water 90 : 10 (% v/v). Flow rate of 1.0 mL/min
Column temperature: room temperature.
Stationary phase: Phenomenex RP-C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPLC-UV at 203 nm2.0–10.0 μg mL−10.520/1.577 μg mL−1[121]

Polyherbal formulation containing Tribulus terrestres Linn.extract1 g90 mL HCl 3 N
for 1 h 30 at 100°C
LLE with 75 mL diethyl
ether 75 mL
Mobile phase: methanol : water 15 : 85 (% v/v), gradient mode. Flow rate at 1.0 mL/min Column temperature: 30°C
Stationary phase: Symmetry RP-C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm)
HPLC-DAD at 205 nm25.0–75.0 μg mL−1[122]

Rhizomes or tubers of various Dioscorea species and dietary supplements0.5 g for solids and 1 mL for liquids9 to 25 mL of methanolMobile phase: acetonitrile : water 75 : 25 (v/v%) containing 0.05% formic acid. Flow rate at 0.27 mL/min.
Column temperature: 40°C
Stationary phase:
Acquity UPLC™ BEH Shield RP18 (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)
UHPLC-ELSD and DAD15.0–550 μg mL−15.0–12/10-25 μg mL−1[123]