The precipitation of 3β-hydroxysteroids by digitonin

Abstract
The precipitation of 3 beta-hydroxysteroids by digitonin was studied in a roughly quanti-tative manner by the method of Haslewood (Biochem. Jour. 41: xli. 1947). 3beta-hydroxysteroids of the 5 alpha-(A/B-trans) series and of the [DELTA]5-unsaturated series are precipitated by digitonin in much higher dilution than are the corresponding steroids of the 5beta-(A/B-cis) series. This difference in behavior with digitonin can be used in the separation of such steroids. The behavior of some 3beta-acetoxysteroids and other compounds with digitonin was studied.