title: Chromatographic procedures for the isolation of plant steroids.
abstract: In this review, we consider the general principles and specific methods for the purification of different classes of phytosteroids which have been isolated from plant sources: brassinosteroids, bufadienolides, cardenolides, cucurbitacins, ecdysteroids, steroidal saponins, steroidal alkaloids, vertebrate-type steroids and withanolides. For each class we give a brief summary of the characteristic structural features, their distribution in the plant world and their biological effects and applications. Most classes are associated with one or a few plant families, e.g., the withanolides with the Solanaceae, but others, e.g., the saponins, are very widespread. Where a compound class has been extensively studied, a large number of analogues are present across a range of species. We discuss the general principles for the isolation of plant steroids. The predominant methods for isolation are solvent extraction/partition followed by column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography/HPLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Devon, UK. l.n.dinan@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dinan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harmatha
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafont
mesh_terms: D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids