Abstract
Plant material from India was assayed for diosgenin plus yamogenin by an improved
procedure. Twelve samples of Trigonella foenum-graecum whole seed gave O.6 %–1 % m.f.b.
with a diosgenin to yamogenin ratio of 3:2; three samples of T. corniculata seed (freed
from seed of Melilotus indica)
gave 0.15 %–0.17 % m.f.b. with a ratio of 3:1 and one sample of each of the following
materials of Balanites roxburghii gave: kernels 0.16 % ratio 95:5; fruit wall 0.2 %
ratio 64:36; thin roots 2.2 % ratio 95:5 and woody roots 0.32 % ratio 69:31. Diosgenin
and yamogenin were absent from M. indica.
