ACCUMULATION OF STEROLS AND STEROIDAL SAPOGENINS IN DEVELOPING FENUGREEK PODS - POSSIBLE BIOSYNTHESIS IN-SITU

The accumulation of sterols and steroidal sapogenins was investigated in the seeds and pericarps of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) during the development and maturation of the pod. Flowers and young p ods contained high levels of these substances which decreased during t he development of pericarps and seeds. Steroidal sapogenins (mainly di osgenin, tigogenin and their C-25 epimers) then accumulated strongly i n seeds while the increase of sterols was very slight. Cholesterol sho wed similar, but less dramatic changes. Several other sterols, includi ng pollinastanol (14 alpha-methyl-9 beta,19-cyclo-5 alpha-cholestan-3 beta-ol), and dihydroxylated sapogenins also appeared during the devel opment and maturation of seeds. Labelling experiments with [2-C-14]-ac etate were carried out on excised maturing pods. Radioactivity was fou nd in the four sterolic forms, mono- and dihydroxylated sapogenins fro m the seeds. Labelled diosgenin was isolated and purified to constant specific radioactivity. These results indicate that excised maturing p ods of fenugreek can biosynthesize sterols and steroidal sapogenins.