The enzyme is involved in degradation of the steroid saponin dioscin by some fungi of the?Absidia?genus. The enzyme can also hydrolyse 3-O-[¦Á-L-Ara-(1¡ú4)-[¦Á-L-Rha-(1¡ú2)]-¦Â-D-Glc]diosgenin into diosgenin and free sugars as the final products. (cf. EC?3.2.1.190, dioscin glycosidase (3-O-¦Â-D-Glc-diosgenin-forming)).