Steroidal glycosides

right|thumb|200px|Cucurbit-5-ene with standard carbon numbering right|thumb|200px|3D structure of cucurbitacin E as found in the [[crystal structure]]

Digitonin is a steroidal saponin (saraponin) obtained from the foxglove plant Digitalis purpurea. Its aglycone is digitogenin, a spirostan steroid. It has been investigated as a detergent, as it effectively water-solubilizes lipids. As such, it has several potential membrane-related applications in biochemistry, including solubilizing membrane proteins, precipitating cholesterol, and permeabilizing cell membranes.

Osladine is a high-intensity sweetener isolated from the rhizome of Polypodium vulgare. It is a saponin, sapogenin steroid glycoside, 500 times sweeter than sucrose.

Protodioscin is a steroidal saponin compound found in a number of plant species, most notably in the Tribulus, Trigonella Dioscorea and Trillium families. It is best known as the putative active component of the herbal aphrodisiac plant Tribulus terrestris.

chemical compound

chemical compound