Isolation and characterization of diosgenin from in vitro cultured tissues of Helicteres isora L.

The objective of the present study was to isolate, characterize, quantify and compare the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolite-diosgenin from in vitro cultured cells of Helicteres isora and plant parts. The levels of this secondary compound were examined by using various biochemical techniques. The result showed that maximum diosgenin was obtained from in vitro cultured cells as compared to the plant parts. The fallout of this study is important, since levels of diosgenin detected in the in vitro cultured cells were more than in the plant parts. In vitro cultured cells accumulate comparatively higher amount of diosgenin making Helicteres isora a potentially new and indigenous source of diosgenin.