Prebiotic effect of diosgenin, an immunoactive steroidal sapogenin of the Chinese yam.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of diosgenin, a yam-derived phytochemical, on the growth of enteric lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The in vivo effect of diosgenin on the density of intestinal flora was examined in a murine model of food allergy. Oral administration with diosgenin markedly restored the diminished density of faecal LAB associated with allergic reactions. The direct effect of diosgenin and several structure-related steroidal compounds on the growth of faecal anaerobes isolated from diosgenin-administered mice was also investigated. The presence of diosgenin significantly enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus murinus and Lactobacillus reuteri, but not enterococci. Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that the prebiotic activity of steroidal sapogenins might require structural elements of the C5-C6 double bond and intact E- and F-rings. Collectively, these results indicate that steroidal sapogenins may be a novel class of prebiotics to LAB.

• Authors: Chung-Hsiung Huang, Jin-Yi Cheng, Ming-Chung Deng, Chung-Hsi Chou, Tong-Rong Jan
• Journal: Food chemistry (Food Chem) Vol. 132 Issue 1 Pg. 428-32 (May 01 2012) ISSN: 1873-7072 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26434311 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Prebiotics
• Steroids
• Diosgenin

Topics

• Animals
• Dioscorea (chemistry)
• Diosgenin (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Feces (microbiology)
• Food Hypersensitivity (microbiology)
• Intestines (microbiology)
• Lactobacillus (drug effects, growth & development)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Plant Tubers (chemistry)
• Prebiotics
• Steroids
• Structure-Activity Relationship