从盾叶薯蓣(Dioscorea zingiberensis Wright)新鲜根茎的甲醇提取物分离到薯蓣皂甙元棕榈酸酯(diosgenin palmitate)、β-谷甾醇(β-sitosterol)、纤细皂甙(gracillin)、原纤细皂甙(protogracillin)和原盾叶皂甙(protozingiberemissaponin),后者为一新甾体皂甙,结构推定为3-O-{α-L-鼠李吡喃糖(1→3)-[β-D-葡萄吡喃糖(1→2)]-β-D-葡萄吡喃糖}-26-O-{β-D-葡萄吡喃糖}-薯蓣皂甙元(3-O-{α-L-rhamnopyran0syl(1→3)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl}-26-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl}-diosgenin)。