DIOSGENIN: AN INTEGRATED REVIEW OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH, ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES, AI APPLICATIONS, AND SAFETY: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Diosgenin is a naturally occurring C27 steroidal sapogenin found mainly in Dioscorea species and is widely investigated in steroid chemistry, natural-product research, and pharmaceutical science. Its characteristic spiroketal steroid framework makes it an important starting material for steroidal synthesis and structural modification. Several analytical techniques, including TLC, HPTLC, HPLC, UV-DAD, FT-IR, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and NMR, have been developed for its identification, quantification, and structural characterization. Recent research has expanded toward sustainable production, improved extraction, semi-synthetic modification, biocatalysis, and advanced analytical technologies. Artificial intelligence and machine-learning approaches are also emerging as useful tools for chromatographic optimization, spectral interpretation, compound authentication, and analytical data processing.