Chromatographic procedures for the isolation of plant steroids

In this review, we consider the general principles and specific methods for the purification of different classes of phytosteroids which have been isolated from plant sources: brassinosteroids, bufadienolides, cardenolides, cucurbitacins, ecdysteroids, steroidal saponins, steroidal alkaloids, vertebrate-type steroids and withanolides. For each class we give a brief summary of the characteristic structural features, their distribution in the plant world and their biological effects and applications. Most classes are associated with one or a few plant families, e.g., the withanolides with the Solanaceae, but others, e.g., the saponins, are very widespread. Where a compound class has been extensively studied, a large number of analogues are present across a range of species. We discuss the general principles for the isolation of plant steroids. The predominant methods for isolation are solvent extraction/partition followed by column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography/HPLC.