Research in Dioscorea species- 1

Sanjeet Kumar
Ravenshaw University
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

 Research in Dioscorea species

Various researchers such as Sinha and Lakra (2005), Edison et al.(2006), Mishra et al. (2007), Prusti and Behera (2007), Swarnkar and Katewa (2008), Sahu et al.(2010), Kumar et al. (2010), Namrata et al. (2011) provided ethno-botanical reports on Dioscorea species which state that it is used as a food among tribal communities of Orissa in critical time. Tubers of Dioscorea oppositifolia is used in the treatment of swellings, scorpion and snake bites, juice of Dioscorea wallichi is used in the treatment of Jaundice, Dioscorea hispida is used as an antidote in arrow poison. Dioscorea species to the food security among tribes of Jeypore tract, Orissa. Tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera are eaten after prolonged boiling in Malkangiri District of Orissa, used as contraceptive, used against cough, Leprosy, Diabetes, Spermoitic, aphrodisiac and antihelmintic and also against rheumatism (in Deogard district of Odisha), piles, dysentery, syphilis and ulcers. Dioscorea pentaphylla is used against abdominal pain after delivery.Chandra et al., 2012 reported the nutritive and phytochemicals present in Dioscorea deltoidea of Garhwal Himalaya. Several authors reported pharmacological activity of Dioscorea.among them are Ahmed et al. (2009), Rani et al. (2010), Murthy et al. (2011), Suresh et al. (2011), Suriyavathana and Indupriya (2011), Ghosh et al. (2012). They reported that Dioscorea bulbifera inhibits the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity which is responsible for its anti-diabetic action. It has anti-oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-dyslipidemic activities. Methanol extract of Dioscorea oppositifolia has anti-ulcer activity. Ethanolic leaf extracts of Dioscorea hispida have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anthelmintic activity. Nutritional values of Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Dioscorea tomentosa and Dioscorea spicta have been reported by Mohan and Kalidas, 2010.

 

 

Behera et al., 2010 reported the concentration of an active compound Diosgenin and ascorbic acid of the tubers of Dioscorea species found in Orissa. Mohan and Kalidas, 2010 reported the anti-nutritional compounds as Tannin, Hydrogen cyanide and Oxalate. 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. In 2005, Pérez et al. reported that Dioscorea species is used in gastritis among Yoruba Tribal groups of Cuba. Lila (2009) reported that crushed tubers of Dioscorea hamiltonii are given as body refrigerant during summer and also used in Diarrhoea, sap of tubers of Dioscorea hispida is used against Harinad( peeling of skin of feet), Dioscorea bulbifera is used against Tuberculosis, raw tuber of Dioscorea pentaphylla is used against Diphtheria in Cattle. In 2011, Danikou et al. reported that tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera are used as food plants in Bénin.Webster et al., 1984 reported the component Diobulbin D in Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea hispida of Thailand which is responsible for their bitterness. Yoon et al., 2008 reported a bioactive compound Allantoin in Dioscorea rhizomes. Bhandari and Kawabata, 2005 identified bitter components as Furanoid norditerpenes cyanogens content. 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 such as Lutein. Olayemi and Ajaiyeoba, 2007 reported the anti-inflammatory activity of Dioscorea esculenta. Theersin and Baker, 2009 identified phenolic compounds and analyzed the antioxidant potential of Dioscorea hispida. The Anti-clastogenic effect of aqueous extract of Dioscorea alata was reported by L. Wang et al. in 2011.

 

 

Mbiantcha et al., 2011 reported the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of extract from the bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera.  In 2003, Mignouna and Dansi 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. Otegbayo et al., 2011 reported the physiochemical properties of yam Starch and effect on textural quality on food product. 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 (Bitter) and inedible. Polycarp et al., 2012 characterized the chemical and anti-nutritional factors as oxalates, tannin and phytates of Ghana.