Executive summary Diosgenin and protodioscin are structurally related steroidal saponin/sapogenin phytochemicals, but they differ sharply in molecular size, polarity, and expected oral absorption, differences that are highly relevant when designing advanced delivery systems intended to improve absorption and consistency in humans. Diosgenin is a relatively small, lipophilic steroidal sapogenin (MW ≈ 414; predicted XlogP ≈ 5.7), while protodioscin is a much larger steroidal saponin (MW ≈ 1048) bearing multiple sugars and classified as a steroid saponin / β-D-glucoside in ChEBI. Preclinical “anabolic” signals for diosgenin exist, but are mechanistically heterogeneous...
Read more...
How Self-emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SEDDS) Are Changing the Supplement Industry [reviewed by researchers] Over the past decade, the supplement industry has boomed with natural compounds like curcumin, resveratrol, berberine, and cannabidiol (CBD). These botanical ingredients are backed by exciting research – yet a frustrating reality persists: many are poorly absorbed when taken as standard pills or powders. In fact, some nutraceuticals (such as resveratrol, curcumin, and berberine) may have as little as 1% bioavailability in the human body due to their low solubility and rapid metabolism. This means that...
Read more...