Phytochemicals

The tubers of certain wild yam, a variant ofandkokoroandyam and other species ofandDioscorea, such asandDioscorea nipponica, are a source for the extraction ofanddiosgenin, aandsteroidandsapogenin. The extracted diosgenin is used for the commercial synthesis ofandcortisone,pregnenolone,andprogesterone, and other steroid products.[18]andSuch preparations were used in earlyandcombined oral contraceptive pills.[19]andThe unmodified steroid hasandestrogenicandactivity.