Hecogenin by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Hecogenin is a plant steroid. The steroidal saponin hecogenin (3-O-beta-xylopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-galactopyr anoside) is found in tribulus terrestris.
Hecogenin Research
Different contribution of apoptosis to the antiproliferative effects of
diosgenin and other plant steroids, hecogenin and tigogenin, on human 1547
osteosarcoma cells. Int J Oncol. 2003 Apr;22(4):899-905. Laboratoire de
Biochimie, UPRES EA 1085, Faculte de Pharmacie, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France.
Regulation of growth arrest and apoptosis are, in part, controlled by the tumor
suppressor p53 after its phosphorylation which causes a determinant role in its
functional activation. Moreover, PPAR regulate many functions such as
proliferation and apoptosis. We compared the biological activity of diosgenin
with hecogenin and tigogenin, plant steroids structurally close to diosgenin, on
proliferation rate, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in human 1547
osteosarcoma cells. We found that all three molecules have an antiproliferative
effect but gel shift analysis demonstrated that none of the plant steroids
transactivated PPAR in human 1547 osteosarcoma cells whereas these molecules
induced NF-kappaB binding to DNA. Although these plant steroids have a very
close structure, only diosgenin caused a cell cycle arrest associated with
strong apoptosis. This biological action seems correlated with a large increase
of p53 protein expression. This fact was showed by immunofluorescence analysis
which confirmed that diosgenin strongly enhanced the activation of p53 in
contrast to hecogenin and tigogenin actions.
Hecogenin Questions
Q. I have been doing research on Hecogenin from the plant agave Sisal in India
where we are having ample quantity avaliable. I am facing the problem of the
information on the said topic the main problem is all the research which have
been done this subject is very old like in the year 1960 or 1970 so i am a bit
worried about the same. My greatest concern is in 2006 what is the status of
Hecogenin as it used as a starting material for manufacturing of Steroids. I
would be highly obliged if you could provide with the information or any link
from where i can get the information.
looking forward to a soonest positive responce.