Steroid saponins are steroid glycosides, strongly foaming (hence their presence in detergents), used as an expectorant and cardiac (digitonin) medicines. They occur in plants such as Dioscorea, roots of common soapwort and licorice. Especially strong medical use has saponin, contained in the plant Centella Asiatica, which has the efficacy of streptomycin for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They are used in the synthesis of hormones (e.g. Hekogenin, and monogenin gitogenin, occuring in agave) - including testosterone, and corticosteroids. Improve digestion by increasing gastric juices and cleanse the body of toxins, have an antibacterial effect. They have a limited diuretic effect.
In the sports supplementation saponins are used, that may affect the level of strong anabolic - testosterone in the body. Available in the form of herbal supplements containing roots of common soapwort, licorice, Tribulus, fenugreek, sarsaparilla, Centella asiatica and many others, available at www.muscle-zone.pl
Glycoside steroids, strongly foaming in aqueous solutions, often poisonous, used as expectorants and cardiac medicines (digitonin), and as detergents.