ˌsapəˈjenə̇n; səˈpäjənə̇n, -ˌnēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary sapo nin + -genin
: the nonsugar portion of a saponin obtained by hydrolysis or in a few cases found free in plants and characterized by either a triterpenoid usually pentacyclic structure (as in quillaic acid) or by a steroid structure usually having a spiro acetal side chain (as in diosgenin)
interest in the steroidal sapogenins has been increasing in recent years because of their usefulness as starting materials in the synthesis of steroidal hormones — Stephen Kaufmann