Current Highlights on Biochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Dioscorea Alata : A Review

Abstract

Dioscorea alata, also known as water yam is an important plant found globally. Nearly 600 different yam species have been reported around the world. D. alata is an edible product, it is highly cultivated in countries like tropical South America, Africa, Australia, and South-eastern U.S. Dioscorea alata, commonly known as water yam, purple yam, ube, or greater yam has been reported to have diverse activities in various diseases. D. alata belongs to dioscoreaceae family and has been found to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic properties. The metabolic products of dioscorea alata are phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, flavonoids, glycoside, saponins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, proteins, tannins etc. The active constituents of D. alata are diosgenin, dioscorine, dioscin, cholin, mucin, allantoin, crude fat, crude fiber, catechins, chlorogenic acids, proanthocyanidins, myricetin, diosbulbin and sapogenin. Diosgenin is one of the main steroidal glycoside has been reported to have different activities like anti-diabetic activity, anti-hypertensive activity, anti-cancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity and cardio protective activity. Diosgenin is effective in heart disease due to the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activity. Diosgenin has also been found to reduce oxidative stress and increase the levels of glutathione, SOD and catalase activity. Diosgenin also reported to inhibit the apoptosis by reducing the activation of caspase 9, a pro-apoptotic factor. Furthermore, bioactive compounds, including diosgenin, anthocyanins and dietary fiber of D. alata tuber has potential to prevent the condition of hyperlipidemia by normalizing blood lipid profiles. However, further investigations are required to find the effect of D. alata on cardiovascular disorders.

Steroidal Saponin Isolated from Dioscorea alata L. Extract Improve Digestive Tract Allergy in Balb/C Mice Induced by Ovalbumin

“…Our previous research proved that an ethanol extract of D. alata had hypo-allergenic and immuno-modulatory activity (Makiyah, 2018;Makiyah et al, 2014Makiyah et al, , 2016Makiyah et al, , 2015. Steroidal saponin is the most crucial compounds contained in Dioscorea species because it has some biological functions such as immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory depend on its structure (Dong et al, 2008;Kaur et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2011). D. alata contains diosgenin (Cheng et al, 2007;D et al, 2019), the main aglycon steroidal saponin.…”

Effects of Low-Dose Kinetin, 2,4-D and Monochromatic Light Conditions on Flavonoid Content in Callus Culture of Dioscorea esculenta

“…On the other hand, recent studies justify several specific bioactive compounds, such as water-soluble polysaccharides [5,6], dioscorin [7], diosgenin [8], confusarin, and nudol [9], which are beneficial for pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, D. esculenta is alleged to have high phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, which have the substantial ability of antioxidant activity [10]. Previous studies show that D. esculenta tuber contains high flavonoid contents up to 12.4 ± 0.46 mg/100 g and alkaloids reaching 1.89 ± 0.02 mg/100 g [11].…”

An overview on medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalayas region with emphasis on antidiabetic: A review

“…Costus Speciosus Family: Costaceae Betlaure Rhizome Diabetes Antidiabetic Antilipidemic [20] 13 Dillenia indica Family: Dilleniaceae Ramphal Paanca phal Leaves Fever, Dysentery Antidiabetic Antihyperlipidemic [21] 14 Dioscorea alata Family: Dioscoreaceae Ghartarul Fruit Piles, Constipation Antioxidant, Antidiabetic [22] 15…”