Molar mass 472.7 g/mol | ||
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Hederagenin is a triterpenoid which is a chemical constituent of the Hedera helix plant.
Contents
Hederagenin is the aglycone part of numerous saponins found in Hedera helix (common ivy). The most prevalent of these being hederacoside C and alpha-hederin. It is also one of three primary triterpenoids extracted from the Chenopodium quinoa plant categorized by the EPA as a biopesticide. HeadsUp Plant Protectant is made up of approximately equal ratios of the saponin aglycones oleanolic acid, hederagenin, and phytolaccinic acid and is intended for use as a seed treatment on tuber (e.g. potato seed pieces), legume, and cereal seeds or as a pre-plant root dip for roots of transplants, at planting, to prevent fungal growth, bacterial growth, and viral plant diseases.
Hederagenin has been found to have antidepressant-like effects in a rodent models.
History
Hederagenin was discovered by L. Posselt in 1849 and named hederic acid. However, Posselt was not able to isolate a pure substance or obtain an exact formula: his hederic acid was hederagenin mixed with some tannin impurity.
Related triterpenes
All these compounds share the same pentacyclic framework: