7. Wild Yam: Birth Control Pioneer
The humble wild yam root contains diosgenin, a compound that became the foundation of hormonal contraception. Russell Marker developed the “Marker degradation” process in the 1940s to convert diosgenin into synthetic progesterone. This breakthrough enabled mass production of oral contraceptives. The resulting birth control pills transformed reproductive health worldwide. Wild yam derivatives continue to serve as starting materials for many steroid hormones used in medicine today.