Evidence for an alternative route from sterol to sapogenin in suspension cultures from Trigonella foenumgraecum.

Incorporation of [4-(14)C]cholesterol, [26-(14)C]-cholesterol, [4-(14)C]sitosterol and [22,23-(3)H]-sitosterol into sapogenin in suspension cultures from Trigonella foenumgraecum differed when substrates were added at subculture and 10 d after subculture, suggesting alternative biosynthetic routes were in operation.