The present paper depicts an overview and elucidated assessment of published data and herbarium records on the diversity, distribution pattern, endemism and threat status of Dioscorea spp. to get availed with extant stature and design strategies for its effective conservation. Dioscorea nested under family Dioscoreceae is a pantropical genus comprising about 682 species. In India, the genus is known to possess 42 taxa (41 species and one variety). Dioscorea L. is highly regarded for its nutritional and medicinal values having a significant role in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Several species of Dioscorea contain various biologically active molecules that show anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fertility effects and thereby known for alleviating medicinal curses.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.