Review on R&D for Dioscorea species

Sanjeet Kumar

Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack

 Review on R&D  for Dioscorea species 

National Status

The ethnobotanical report on Dioscorea species are reported by various researchers

• Namrata et al., 2011 reported that tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera are used in piles, dysentery and syphilis and ulcers.
• Mishra et al., 2007 reported the contribution of Dioscorea species to the food security among tribes of Jeypore tract, Orissa.
• Sinha and Lakra , 2005 reported the Dioscorea species as a food among tribal communities of Orissa in critical time.
• Dioscorea bulbifera tuber is used against contraceptive, Dioscorea pentaphylla against abdominal pain after delivery. (Swarnkar and Katewa, 2008).
• Dioscorea bulbifera is used in cough, Leprosy, Diabetes, Spermoitic, aphrodisiac and antihelmintic. (Kumar et al., 2010, prasant)
• Prusti and Behera, 2007 reported that tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera are eaten after prolonged boiling in Malkangiri District of Orissa.
• Sahu et al., 2010 reported that tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera are used against rheumatism by the tribal communities of Deogarh district of Orissa.
• Dioscorea hispida is used as an antidote in arrow poison. (Edison et al., 2006)
• Tubers of Dioscorea oppositifolia is used in the treatment of swellings, scorpion and snake bites. (Edison et al., 2006).
• Juice of Dioscorea wallichi is used in the treatment of Jaundice. (Edison et al., 2006).

Photochemicals reported

• Chandra et al., 2012 reported the nutritive and phytochemicals present in Dioscorea deltoidea of Garhwal Himalaya. 

Pharmacological activity

• Ghosh et al., 2012 reported the antidiabetic activity of Dioscorea bulbifera which inhibit the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity.
•  Suriyavathana and Indupriya , 2011 reported the antioxidant potentials of Dioscorea bulbifera.
• Rani et al., 2010 reported the Anti-ulcer activity of methanol extract of Dioscorea oppositifolia.
• Murthy et al., 2011 reported the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanolic leaf extract of Dioscorea hispida.
•  Ahmed et al., 2009 reported the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-dyslipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Dioscorea bulbifera.
• Suresh et al., 2011 reported the anthelmintic activity of Dioscorea hispida leaves.

Nutritional values

• Mohan and Kalidas, 2010 reported the nutritional values of Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Dioscorea tomentosa and Dioscorea spicta.
• Behera et al., 2010 reported the concentration of an active compound Diosgenin and ascorbic acid of the tubers of Dioscorea species found in Orissa. 

Anti-nutritional factors

• Mohan and Kalidas, 2010 reported the anti-nutritional compounds as Tannin, Hydrogen cyanide and Oxalate.

Anti-microbial activity

• Prakash and Hosetti, 2010 reported the anti-bacterial activity against S.aureus, P.aeruginosa and K.pneumoniae and anti-fungal against T.rubrum, M.gypseum, T.tonsurans, M.audouini and C. albicans of Dioscorea pentaphylla of mid Western Ghats.

 International Status

The ethnobotanical report on Dioscorea species are reported by various researchers

• Pérez et al., 2005 reported that Dioscorea species used in gastritis among Yoruba Tribal groups of Cuba.
• Danikou et al., 2011 reported that tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera is used as food plants in Bénin.
• Crushed tubers of Dioscorea hamiltonii are given as body refrigerant during summer and also used in Diarrhoea. (Lila 2009).
• Sap of tubers of Dioscorea hispida is used against Harinad( peeling of skin of feet). (Lila 2009).
• Dioscorea bulbifera is used against Tuberculosis. (Lila 2009).
• Raw tuber of Dioscorea pentaphylla is used against Diphtheria in Cattle. (Lila 2009). 

Photochemicals reported

• Webster et al., 1984 reported the bitterness component Diobulbin D in Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea hispida of Thailand.
• Yoon et al., 2008 reported a bioactive compounds Allantoin in Dioscorea rhizomes.
• Bhandari and Kawabata, 2005 identified bitter components as Furanoid norditerpenes cyanogens content. 

Pharmacological activity

• Olayemi and Ajaiyeoba, 2007 reported the anti-inflammatory activity of Dioscorea esculenta.
• Wang et al., 2011 reported the Anticlastogenic effect of aqueous extract of Dioscorea alata L.
• Mbiantcha et al., 2011reported the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of extract from the bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera.
• Theersin and Baker, 2009 identified the phenolic compounds and analyzed the antioxidant potential of Dioscorea hispida.
• Martin et al., 1974 reported the yellow pigments of Dioscorea bulbifera , the major part of the yellow color is due to the presence of saponifiable easters of xanthophylls as Lutin.

Nutritional values

• Otegbayo et al., 2011 reported the physiochemical properties of yam Starch and effect on textural quality on food product.
• Mignouna and Dansi, 2003 documented the domestication of Dioscorea species by the Nago and Fon ethnic groups in Benin.
• Kouakou et al., 2010 reported biochemical parameters of Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata during post harvest storage. 

Anti-nutritional factors

• Marie et al., 2005 reported the anti-nutritional factors as Saponin, total phenol and tannin of selected Dioscorea species of Jamaica.
• Ogbuagu, 2008 reported the nutritive and anti-nutritive values of Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea dumentorum . They also reported the presence of alkaloids, oxalate and saponin at high concentration are responsible for the qualification of the species as Wild (Bitterness) and inedible.
• Polycarp et al., 2012 characterized the chemical and anti-nutritional factors as oxalates, tannin and phytates of Ghana.