The isolation and identification of steroidal sapogenins in Kleingrass.

Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L) has been reported to cause hepatogenous photosensitization in sheep and goats in West Texas since 1973. The toxin in Kleingrass has been suspected of being a steroidal saponin as Kleingrass produced characteristic birefringent crystals similar to those produced by saponin-containing plants such as Agave lecheguilla and Tribulus terrestris. In this present study, steroidal saponis were isolated from Kleingrass and their sapogenins were identified as diosgenin and yamogenin by means of thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectrophotometric analysis.