Abstract Medicinally important steroid-based compound diosgenin is usually obtained from the secondary metabolic products of several plant species. Diosgenin has been proven as a prospective bioactive drug lead to the pharmaceutical industries as having anti-cancer activity, anti-microbial activity, anti-thrombic activity, anti-diabetic activity, cardioprotective activity, anti-inflammatory activity, osteoarthritis protective activity etc. Observing the multiple therapeutic values of this compound, scientists and chemists have become interested to discover alternative sources. Endophytic microorganisms possess the potentials producing prospective secondary metabolites. Some diosgenin producing endophytic fungi and bacteria are detected and reported by authors. Extraction and quantification of the respective secondary metabolite in a proper way is required initially for its large scale production. Regular involvement of advance biotechnological approaches plus industrial fermentation technology along with proper funding following government policy is necessary for further progress in this field. Exploration of a higher number of diosgenin producing endophytic strains will definitely increase the supply for social requisition in a cost-effective and environment-friendly manner as limiting the excessive exploitation of plant sources.

中文翻译：

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薯蓣皂苷元的内生来源，一种具有多种治疗价值的天然类固醇

摘要 药用重要的甾体类化合物薯蓣皂苷元通常是从几种植物的次生代谢产物中提取的。薯蓣皂苷元已被证明是一种具有抗癌活性、抗微生物活性、抗血栓活性、抗糖尿病活性、心脏保护活性、抗炎活性、骨关节炎保护活性等的前瞻性生物活性药物。由于这种化合物的多种治疗价值，科学家和化学家对发现替代来源产生了兴趣。内生微生物具有产生预期次生代谢物的潜力。作者检测并报道了一些产生薯蓣皂苷元的内生真菌和细菌。其大规模生产最初需要以适当的方式提取和量化相应的次级代谢物。定期参与先进的生物技术方法和工业发酵技术以及遵循政府政策的适当资金是该领域取得进一步进展所必需的。探索更多的生产薯蓣皂苷元的内生菌株，必将在限制植物资源过度开发的同时，以具有成本效益和环境友好的方式增加社会征用的供应。