The Metabolism of Saponins from Yucca schidigera in Sheep

摘要

Yucca schidigera is a desert plant native to the southwestern USA and Mexico that is widely used in the food and feed industries as well as in the drug and cosmetic industries (Cheeke, 1998). Yucca products are used as anti-stress agents in man and inpoultry, to promote weight gain in cattle, to inhibit ammonia formation in poultry and pig waste (Kaneda et al., 1987). They are also used in very large quantities as foaming agents in beverages. Steroidal saponins are considered to be the active ingredient of extracts of Y. schidigera (Kaneda et al., 1987; Hostettmann and Marston, 1995).