山药的植物化学及化学成分

… [128] focused on phenylpropanoids from the aerial parts of Dioscorea polystachya to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) inhibition in RAW264.7 cells. They observed that Diosbiben C exhibited …

Dioscorea spp. belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family, known as “yams”, and contains approximately 600 species with a wide distribution. It is a major food source for millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions. Dioscorea has great medicinal and therapeutic capabilities and is a potential source of bioactive substances for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the phytochemicals of Dioscorea, such as steroidal saponins, polyphenols, allantoin, and, in particular, polysaccharides and diosgenin. These bioactive compounds possess anti-inflammatory activity and are protective against a variety of inflammatory diseases, such as enteritis, arthritis, dermatitis, acute pancreatitis, and neuroinflammation. In addition, they play an important role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, including obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Their mechanisms of action are related to the modulation of a number of key signaling pathways and molecular targets. This review mainly summarizes recent studies on the bioactive compounds of Dioscorea and its treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases, and highlights the underlying molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, Dioscorea is a promising source of bioactive components and has the potential to develop novel natural bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

The present study was performed to investigate the physicochemical properties and biological activity of extract from Dioscorea polystachya Turcz. bulbil (DPB), registered as novel food ingredients, via a combination treatment using enzyme and ethanol. The results indicated an increase in the degree of starch hydrolysis with an increase in the enzyme treatment time. Furthermore, the treatment time exerted a significant effect on the marked increase in browning index (BI), content of total soluble solids (TSS), and useful component content (p<0.001). The contents of total polyphenols (TP), total flavonoids, and crude saponin (CS) also increased with an increase in the enzyme treatment time (p<0.001). It was determined that enzyme treatment for more than 4 h was unnecessary. The increase in α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was affected by the presence of TP and CS during enzyme treatment. It was concluded that enzyme treatment was effective for a minimum of 30 min and a maximum of 4 h. The present work demonstrated the optimization of the useful and functional components of DPB via a complex treatment using enzyme and ethanol. These profiles provide valuable data in the selection and application of DPB for the development of functional food materials.

Abstract This study aimed to compare the total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities in the aqueous methanolic extracts of Angelica sinensis, Dioscorea polystachya, Ginkgo biloba, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Lycium barbarum with two dietary plants: Brassica oleracea and Zingiber officinale. The TPC and TFC in medicinal plant extracts were 12–93% lower than Z. officinale as follows: L. barbarum > G. uralensis > A. sinensis > G. biloba > D. polystachya. The decreasing radical scavenging activity in medicinal plant extracts shared similar trend: G. uralensis > L. barbarum > A. sinensis > G. biloba > D. polystachya. Both TPC and TFC were positively correlated with radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities. All medicinal plants were considered inactive (LC50 > 0.2 mg/ml) and safe for consumption. The TPC, TFC, radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities in the medicinal plants were plant-part dependant, in particular L. barbarum and G. uralensis. Graphical Abstract

… belonging to the species Dioscorea opposita, has a long history of use on promoting gut health. Recent studies highlighted the diverse components found in yam (Dioscorea spp.), …

The bulbils (air potatoes) and tubers of Dioscorea L. species are huge reservoirs of biomolecules that provide nutrition and healthcare benefits to human beings. After the cereal and pseudocereal, bulbils and tubers are precious sources of nutraceuticals to society, nature and natural systems. Dioscorea species commonly known as ‘Yams’ is a monocotyledonous vine that belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae. The vine has tubers, stems, leaves, inflorescence and bulbils which are organized reservoirs of biofunctional therapeutic biomolecules. These are carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, sapogenins, steroids, phytates, tannins, dioscin, dioscorine, diosgenins, etc. These phytomolecules perform many physiological and pharmacological activities in living organisms, especially human beings. Traditionally, it is used for digestive disorders, pain of the stomach and abdomen, and dysmenorrhea, as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antacid, appetizer, reduce weakness, antidiarrheal, contraceptive, antidandruff, wormicide, anthelmintic, antiobesity and antirheumatic. Many antimicrobial properties such as antibacterial (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria), antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antileishmanial activities were also shown by the potential Dioscorea species. They are a source of natural bioenergy that can be explored and utilized by the civilized world for their proper utilization and conservation.

The quest for a food secure and safe world has led to continuous effort toward improvements of global food and health systems. While the developed countries seem to have these systems stabilized, some parts of the world still face enormous challenges. Yam (Dioscorea species) is an orphan crop, widely distributed globally; and has contributed enormously to food security especially in sub-Saharan Africa because of its role in providing nutritional benefits and income. Additionally, yam has non-nutritional components called bioactive compounds, which offer numerous health benefits ranging from prevention to treatment of degenerative diseases. Pharmaceutical application of diosgenin and dioscorin, among other compounds isolated from yam, has shown more prospects recently. Despite the benefits embedded in yam, reports on the nutritional and therapeutic potentials of yam have been fragmented and the diversity within the genus has led to much confusion. An overview of the nutritional and health importance of yam will harness the crop to meet its potential towards combating hunger and malnutrition, while improving global health. This review makes a conscious attempt to provide an overview regarding the nutritional, bioactive compositions and therapeutic potentials of yam diversity. Insights on how to increase its utilization for a greater impact are elucidated.

… Dioscorea opposita aqueous extracts, traditionally utilized in Chinese medicine. The identification of polysaccharides as the predominant bioactive phytochemical… linking phytochemical …

… Further, phytochemical and clinical studies are required to … alata is renowned for its rich phytochemical composition, … The age and the type of accessions influence the phytochemical …

Yams are the edible subterranean rhizomes, or tubers, of plants from the genus Dioscorea. There are approximately 600 species of yam plants in the world, with more than 90 of these growing in East Asia. One particular species, Dioscorea opposita Thunb., is highly praised as “the Chinese yam”. This distinction arises from millennia of storied history, both as a nutritional food source and as a principal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Among the many cultivars of Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Huai Shanyao has been widely regarded as the best. This review surveyed the historical background, physiochemical composition, applications as food and medicine, and research prospects for the Chinese yam. Modern science is finally beginning to confirm the remarkable health benefits of this yam plant, long-known to the Chinese people. Chinese yam promises anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, and combination treatment applications, both as a functional food and as medicine.

… in China, Japan, and Korea. Current investigations have revealed the presence of certain components in Chinese yam (… beta-carotene in the Chinese yam. These components have the …

Yam is a versatile economic crop that serves both medicinal and dietary purposes. Dehua County, located in Fujian Province, China, is renowned as one of the major yam production areas, with a cultivation history spanning over 600 years. It has successfully cultivated Qingfeng yam and Ziyu yam, both of which have been recognized with China’s “Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products.” However, no comprehensive studies have been conducted to evaluate their quality. This study meticulously utilized the authentic medicinal material “Iron yam” as a benchmark, employing advanced techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and flame atomic absorption spectrometry to systematically analyze the nutritional and hypoglycemic active components of three distinct yam varieties. In order to interpret the data, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), cluster analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were systematically applied. The results revealed significant variations in the concentrations of various indicators across the three yam types. Correlation analysis identified 65 pairs of indicators with exceptionally strong correlations and 39 pairs with statistically significant associations. Additionally, the principal component analysis demonstrated that Iron yam exhibited the most favorable overall quality. Notably, Ziyu yam, characterized by its high concentration of hypoglycemic active compounds, emerged as a promising raw material for the production of hypoglycemic products, showcasing significant potential in this field.

Abstract Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are widely cultivated as a vegetable and as herbal medicines in China. Although the analysis of volatile components is important for edible vegetables, less is known about yam's volatiles. The aim of this work was to investigate the differences in the volatile compositions of Chinese yams and to explore the varietal and geographical influences on their volatile compositions. A total of 84 volatile compounds were identified from 11 varieties of Chinese yams using HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS. Alcohols and ethers such as 1-octen-3-ol and anthole were identified as the universal characteristic volatile components in Chinese yams. Principal components analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis showed two clear clusters: Ziyu yam and other yams, and variety was a more important factor than producing area. The results of orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis showed that ZY was different from the other varieties and 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1,2,4,5-tetroxane and 2,3-butanediol were its characteristic volatile compounds. As a special yam, ZY might be studied further.

Abstract Huai Yam (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) contains many active ingredients such as flavonoids, saponins, and amino acids. In this study, an efficient method for the classification and rapid identification of yam components was established based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and data post-processing techniques. First, the mass spectrometry information including the characteristic fragmentations (CFs) and neutral losses (NLs) of yam reported in the literature were summarised and a database of compounds was established. Then, the mass spectrometry data detected by the yam sample are compared with those described in database for rapid identification of target compounds. Finally, 60 compounds were identified, including 18 flavones, 2 saponins, 10 amino acids, 7 organic acids, 3 carbohydrates, 8 fatty acids and 12 others. A new strategy for identifying target constituents based on CFs and NLs was successfully established, laying the foundation for further research on yam and promoting the development of composition analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Graphic Abstract

… , central, and southeastern regions of China, and it is also … The Chinese yam is rich in nutrients including proteins (3.59 … active constituents are present in Chinese yam tubers, such …

Yam as a medicinal and edible resource plant, is abundant in bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, polyphenols, allantoin, and saponins, these constituents endow yam with diverse functional properties, such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory and alleviating enteritis effects. The extraction methods, functional properties, and the primary mechanisms through which these compounds exert their effects in different varieties of yams from various regions are reviewed, and the future research priorities are proposed to offer valuable insights for the advanced processing of yams and to inform further investigations into their functional characteristics.

The diversification of food crops can improve our diets and address the effects of climate change, and in this context the orphan crop Chinese yam shows significant potential as a functional food. As the effects of climate change become increasingly visible even in temperate regions, there is an urgent need to diversify our crops in order to address hunger and malnutrition. This has led to the re-evaluation of neglected species such as Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turcz.), which has been cultivated for centuries in East Asia as a food crop and as a widely-used ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. The tubers are rich in nutrients, but also contain bioactive metabolites such as resistant starches, steroidal sapogenins (like diosgenin), the storage protein dioscorin, and mucilage polysaccharides. These health-promoting products can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and disorders of the gut microbiome. Whereas most edible yams are tropical species, Chinese yam could be cultivated widely in Europe and other temperate regions to take advantage of its nutritional and bioactive properties. However, this is a laborious process and agronomic knowledge is fragmented. The underground tubers contain most of the starch, but are vulnerable to breaking and thus difficult to harvest. Breeding to improve tuber shape is complex given the dioecious nature of the species, the mostly vegetative reproduction via bulbils, and the presence of more than 100 chromosomes. Protocols have yet to be established for in vitro cultivation and genetic transformation, which limits the scope of research. This article summarizes the sparse research landscape and evaluates the nutritional and medical applications of Chinese yam. By highlighting the potential of Chinese yam tubers, we aim to encourage the adoption of this orphan crop as a novel functional food.

… as Chinese yam, was domesticated in China approximately … a significant production hub for Chinese yams, particularly the “… Wenxian, contribute to overall Chinese yam production [17]. …

Dioscorea opposita Thunb, as homologous plant of traditional medicine and food in our country, is the important raw material for healthy food. D. opposita maily contains variety of functional components such as polysaccharides, saponins, polyphenols, proteins, and trace elements. Many researchers have confirmed that D. opposita has the effects of immune regulation, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and regulating the spleen and stomach. Consequently, D. opposita has good development potential and application prospects in the fields of medicine, health and food products. Recently, the extraction, separation and pharmacological effects of functional components from D. opposita have been drawing much attention from scholars around the world. However, different species, different extraction and separation methods affect the structure and efficacy of functional components. This paper systematically reviews the functional components and the hottest pharmacological effects of D. opposita to broaden the application scope of D. opposita in many fields and industries, and analyze the relationship between functional components and efficacy, to provide a reference for the development and utilization of D. opposita functional food and health medicine.

Background This study investigated the ameliorative potential of a saponin derived from Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils in mitigating experimentally induced cardiotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Methods Forty-eight rats were divided into eight groups (n = 6). Group A received distilled water, and Group B received doxorubicin (10 mg/kg). Groups C and D received SRF (50 or 100 mg/kg) for 14 days. Groups E and F received doxorubicin with SRF, while Groups G and H were pretreated with SRF before doxorubicin on day 15. Blood and heart tissues were collected for analysis after euthanasia. Results Rats in the doxorubicin-only group (Group B) exhibited significant elevations in serum cardiac injury markers, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), along with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conversely, activities of key antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)—were markedly reduced. Enhanced glycogen accumulation, Caspase-3 activation, and CD4 expression further indicated heightened oxidative stress and apoptosis. Treatment with SRF, particularly in the pre- and co-administration protocols, significantly attenuated these alterations. Conclusion The saponin-rich fraction of Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils demonstrated substantial cardioprotective potential against doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury, likely through its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

… The polysaccharides extracted from tubers also … steroidal saponins have demonstrated anticancer effects and these bioactive compounds are plentiful in various species of Dioscorea. …

Gembili tuber (Dioscorea esculenta) is a local tuber crop that has not yet been optimally utilized, despite its potential as a source of bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical content as well as the antioxidant and prebiotic activities of the ethanol extract of gembili tuber. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to determine the total phenolic, flavonoid, and saponin contents. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH method. The results showed that gembili extract contained high levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and saponins, which contributed to its antioxidant activity, with inhibition values and IC₅₀ comparable to the control. The DPPH assay revealed that the antioxidant activity of gembili tuber extract increased with increasing extract concentration. The IC₅₀ value decreased from 116.7 ± 1.7 ppm at 1000 ppm to 76.4 ± 0.8 ppm at 3000 ppm. The results of this study indicate that gembili tubers have the potential to be a source of prebiotics and natural antioxidants that can be developed as locally based functional food ingredients.  

… steroidal saponins from yellow ginger (Dioscorea zingiberensis … of releasing diosgenin from steroidal saponins. Moreover, the … production and for further use in saponin modification. …

Yam (Dioscorea spp.), known as an edible and medicinal tuber crop in China, has been used historically for the treatment of diabetes, diarrhea, asthma, and other ailments in traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, it has been consumed as starchy food for thousands of years in China. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological experiments have been proved that non-starch polysaccharide is one of the main bioactive substances of yam. Many studies have been focused on the isolation and identification of polysaccharides and their bioactivities of Chinese yam. However, due to the difference in the variety of raw materials and the method of polysaccharides extracting, the structure and biological activity of the obtained polysaccharides also differ. It has been demonstrated that Chinese yam polysaccharide has various important biological activities, such as hypoglycemia, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. This paper is aimed at summarizing previous and current references of the isolation processes, structural features and bioactivities of yam polysaccharides. The review will serve as a useful reference material for further investigation and application of yam polysaccharides in functional foods and medicine fields.

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory disease caused by the deposition of monosodium urate in the synovial membrane and cartilage due to a high concentration of uric acid in the blood. Dioscorea nipponica Makino is widely used in the clinic to treat GA. Total saponins are its main components and showed an anti-inflammatory effect on GA in a previous study. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signaling pathway plays a key role during the onset of GA; however, little is known about its potential mechanism. Based on in vitro experiments, this study aims to determine the mechanism of total saponins from Dioscorea nipponica Makino (TDN) in treating GA by regulating the MAPK-PPARγ signaling pathway. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes were divided into 3 groups: the model group, which was given 10 µg/L IL-1β to induce proliferation; TDN group (10 µg/L IL-1β + 100 µg/L TDN); and indomethacin group (10 µg/L IL-1β + 100 µg/L indomethacin). Seventy-two hours after treatment, the real-time PCR method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p-38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), IKKα, c-Jun, MAPK phosphatase (MKP), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), PPARγ, and Adipor2. The Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-38, p-P38, JNK, p-JNK, IKKα, p-IKKα, c-Jun, p-c-Jun, MKP, p-MKP, VCAM1, ICAM1, CXCL1, PPARγ, and Adipor2. Compared with the model group, the TDN group displayed significantly increased mRNA expression of c-Jun, MKP, CXCL1, PPARγ, and Adipor2 and significantly decreased mRNA expression of ICAM1. Compared with the model group, the TDN group exhibited significantly increased protein expression of MKP and significantly decreased protein expression of p-ERK1/2, p-38, p-JNK, p-IKKα, p-c-Jun, VCAM1, ICAM1, and PPARγ. Our results indicated that TDN could treat GA by influencing the MAPK-PPARγ signaling pathway.

… Three new steroidal saponins, named diospreussinosides A–C (1–3), along with two known ones (4, 5) were isolated from rhizomes of Dioscorea preussii. Their structures were …

The genus Dioscorea is traditional Chinese medicine producing a variety of pharmacological active substances especially saponins. In our study, the secondary metabolism of Dioscorea zingiberensis and D. opposita that have significantly different saponin contents were investigated. The saponin content was significantly different between two species. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of transcriptomic data revealed significant differences between the two species in several metabolic pathways, including secondary metabolite biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, photosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis. Notably, 28 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were linked to steroid biosynthesis. Through further metabolome analysis, we detected a total of 1 010 metabolites, and 212 (52 upregulated and 160 downregulated) differential metabolites (DAMs) were screened. The DAMs were mainly enriched in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (32), amino acids (17), carbon metabolism (10), pentose phosphate (7), phenylalanine metabolism (6), and steroid (2). The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome found that terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis and steroid biosynthesis were significantly enriched. In addition, we screened three candidate glycosyltransferase genes involved in dioscin biosynthesis. The integration of transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed a strong correlation between metabolite contents and gene expression. Three genes, J5N97_024139 (sterol 3-beta-glucosyltransferase 1, UGT80A2), J5N97_022450 (sterol 3-beta-glucosyltransferase 2, UGT80B1) and J5N97_004795 (UDP-rhamnose transporter 1, URT1), were significantly positively correlated with dioscin biosynthesis. These results provide valuable data for the study of secondary metabolites, particularly saponins, and lay a solid foundation for breeding ideal Dioscorea plants.

Abstract The air yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) is an unconventional vegetable that produces a reserve stem, which has polysaccharides in its composition. These biopolymers, in turn, have aroused industrial interest due to many of their properties and applications in several areas, such as agro-food, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, metallurgical, oil, among others. The objective of this work is to characterize the polysaccharide present in the raw and pre-purified air yams, as well as to verify its potential antioxidant capacity. The FTIR analysis showed in the two samples, a characteristic OH band at approximately 3250 cm−1, which is characteristic of polysaccharides. Through the SEM it was possible to analyze the morphology of the samples and verify that they are composed of films or “sheets” without measurable format. Furthermore, by XRD the samples were found to be an amorphous material, with peaks of crystallinity being observed at approximately 21.54° and 23.62° 2θ. Thermal analysis indicates that the NDP sample presents three regions of mass loss, the first one running up to 100 °C and may be associated with water loss; the second occurs from 150 °C, and occurs in several steps that can be visualized by DTG, and the third from 550 °C. The organic matter present in the sample was about 84%. The DP (Dialysed Polysaccharide) sample, in turn, also presented three regions of mass loss, the first one occurring up to 150 °C, the second from 175 °C and the third, from 425 °C. All these mass losses occur in only one stage. The organic matter present in the sample was approximately 80%. The samples presented potential antioxidant activity when analyzed by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, OH radical removal, H2O2 removal and reducing power. The obtained results are very important, as they reveal information about the chemical characteristics and potential bioactivity of the dialysed and non-dialysed polysaccharide of D. bulbifera.

… biological activities of Dioscorea steroid saponins from the … saponins of furostane-, spirostane-, and pregnane-type skeleton have been discovered and characterized from 13 Dioscorea …

… used to extract Dioscorea opposita polysaccharide samples (S1, … The rheological properties of the polysaccharide samples at … of the Dioscorea opposita polysaccharides, contributing to …

… This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of Chinese yam aqueous … of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. It showed efficacy against ethanol-…

Yams (Discorea spp) are food security crops which serve as invaluable food sources of energy, micronutrients and phytochemicals with numerous health benefits. They show a lot of genetic and compositional diversity. New biologically active compounds are being identified from wild yams. This review focuses on the nutrients, and phytochemicals found in yam species and their health benefits. The B group of vitamins, vitamin C, pro-vitamin A; copper; manganese; isoflavones; steroidal saponins; alkaloids; terpenes; and anthocyanidins are found in different species of yams. Wild yams such as Discorea villosa and Discorea hispida are used in ethnomedicine because of their phytochemical content. Diosgenin, dioscorin, dioscin dihydrodiscorine protodioscin, methyprotodioscin, prosapogenin, epifzelechin, glucopyranoside, phytoestrogen and allantoin are bioactive phytochemicals that may be found in yams. They are valuable as anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing lipid lowering and hepatoprotective agents. Other claims based on traditional uses of yams have not been scientifically substantiated. Dioscorea species are likely to contain other unidentified secondary metabolites. Discorea species with other health promoting bioactive compounds should be identified; modern techniques should be used to extract yet unidentified compounds in Discorea and the food use and health benefits of yam species should be optimized.

Graphical abstract

… as yam, encompasses over 600 species that are widely distributed across the globe. In tropical nations, yam … Greater yam: an overview of its phytochemical profile and potential for …

Background: Dioscorea dumetorum (bitter yam) is an underutilized West African species valued for its nutritional and ethnomedicinal importance. While its tubers have been extensively studied, the essential oils of its aerial parts remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant potential of essential oils extracted from the leaves and stems of Dioscorea dumetorum, to provide scientific insight into their bioactive properties and industrial relevance. Methods: Leaves and stems were air-dried, pulverized, and hydro distilled using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Oil yields and physicochemical properties were determined, while chemical constituents were characterized by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungal (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum, Rhizopus stolonifer) pathogens using the agar well diffusion method. Antioxidant potential was assessed by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. Results: The leaf and stem oils yielded 0.50% and 1.07%, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed 23 and 20 compounds dominated by 2-pentadecanone (20.64%) and phytol (16.74%) in the leaf oil, and di-n-octyl phthalate (34.43%) and eicosanoic acid esters (15.97%) in the stem oil. Both oils exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, with leaf oil showing larger inhibition zones (18–26 mm) than stem oil (14–24 mm). Antioxidant assays demonstrated concentration-dependent activities: leaf oil showed stronger ferric-reducing power, whereas stem oil displayed higher radical-scavenging potential. Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that Dioscorea dumetorum essential oils possess significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties with distinct phytochemical profiles, supporting their potential applications as natural sources of bioactive compounds in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic formulations.

AbstractD. deltoidea Wall. ex Griseb. a member of Dioscoreaceae family is an important species of wild yam native to the Himalayan region of Asia. Plant tubers possess an extensive range of therapeutic and economic value due to presence of bioactive compound diosgenin, a steroidal molecule that acts as a precursor in the chemical production of several hormones. The species has become endangered due to its large-scale collection from the wild areas and very poor rate of regeneration. Keeping in view importance of the species, germplasm of D. deltoidea was collected from the high-altitude temperate regions of Kashmir valley through explorations by NBPGR scientists and conserved in the field gene bank of ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Srinagar. These were grown under uniform environmental conditions in order to select elite accessions with higher diosgenin content and other important phytochemical traits. The diosgenin content was determined in tubers by acidic hydrolysis of the glycosides and extraction with an organic solvent, followed by the HPTLC analysis. The wild germplasm collections were found to contain high diosgenin content (1.21-1.88% DW) compared to other Dioscorea species available in India. The results of tuber composition suggested that this wild tuber species of D. deltoidea can be used as a good alternative source of food to alleviated hunger and malnutrition, which are currently big problems in developing countries as well as natural source of diosgenin for pharmaceutical industries.

… is a primary source of diosgenin, with approximately 137 species identified to contain this … are particularly noted for diosgenin content [15]. Diosgenin has shown promising therapeutic …

… Diosgenin is also one of the important raw materials for the synthesis of steroidal drugs, and structural modification of diosgenin to obtain diosgenin … have identified the role of diosgenin …

… Moreover, the MD simulations showed the MAPK8-diosgenin complex is stable … diosgenin has a multi-target and multi-pathway mode of action, suggesting the potential use of diosgenin …

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the ability of diosgenin and its derivatives to suppress three angiogenic receptor tyrosine kinases-VEGFR2, FGFR1, and PDGFRA-through comprehensive in silico screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. METHODS We screened 1,525 plant-derived compounds, 20 sapogenins, and three diosgenin derivatives for drug-likeness and bioavailability using SwissADME. The top candidates were docked against the three receptor tyrosine kinases using PyRx. Diosgenin and 14 of its derivatives were then further analyzed. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed using NAMD3 with CHARMM force fields to assess the stability of the protein-ligand complexes. Parameters such as RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and ΔG were evaluated. RESULTS Diosgenin was among the top 10 hits for all three receptor tyrosine kinases. It showed the strongest binding and stable interactions with VEGFR2 (ΔG:  -11.03 kcal/mol) compared to lenvatinib (ΔG: -7.52 kcal/mol) and sorafenib (ΔG: -4.01 kcal/mol). The FGFR1-diosgenin and PDGFRA-Diosgenin complexes displayed positive ΔG values, indicating less favorable thermodynamic binding. Three diosgenin derivatives (Formosanin C, Dioscin, and 2-Amin-5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole DG-8d moiety) were also evaluated for their anticancer potential. While Formosanin C showed the highest binding affinities among all three derivatives, diosgenin uniquely interacted with the key catalytic residues of VEGFR2, suggesting functionally more relevant inhibition despite slightly lower docking scores. Similarly, Yamogenin, another sapogenin evaluated, exhibited a high binding affinity across all three angiogenic receptors. Although Yamogenin showed high affinity across all three receptors, molecular dynamics confirmed the superior stability of diosgenin with VEGFR2 (ΔG = -11.03 vs. -9.85 kcal/mol). CONCLUSION Diosgenin represents a promising and selective VEGFR2 inhibitor with  potential to have anti-angiogenic therapeutic activity.

The review has comprehensively examined the therapeutic potential of phytoconstituents in the treatment of arthritis with specific emphasis being given to diosgenin as a promising natural molecule. Arthritis is a significant health concern in the world, with its two most common types; Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, becoming the causes of disability, and expensive to manage in the long run. Even though disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologics have helped to better the patient outcomes, their side effects, high treatment cost, and inaccessibility demonstrate the necessity of safer and cheaper alternatives. The pharmacological significance of the root steroidal sapogenin, diosgenin, as a derivative of the species Dioscorea, that exhibits strong anti-inflammatory effects with clearly defined, molecular-based, mechanisms, is highlighted in this manuscript. Diosgenin suppresses cartilage destruction because of matrix metalloproteinases, the NF-kB signaling pathway as well as the major pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a, IL-1b, and IL-6. It also has chondroprotective action to maintain the integrity of the extracellular matrix, increase levels of type II collagen and aggrecan, and decrease the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13 by about 65–85% in the presence of inflammation. The challenges to clinical translation associated with formulation which are discussed in the review include the very low aqueous solubility of diosgenin (0.95 ug/mL) and oral bioavailability (< 7%). It addresses the use of the advanced delivery systems, including lipid nanoparticles, vesicular carriers and amorphous solid dispersions, which have demonstrated a 2.55-fold increase in bioavailability and also have the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy. Crucially, this review uniquely integrates these bioavailability enhancement strategies with diosgenin’s underlying molecular mechanisms, illustrating how optimised delivery systems are essential to fully unlock its therapeutic potential. Despite robust preclinical evidence supporting its anti-arthritic and chondroprotective actions, clinical investigations remain scarce, with only a few small studies and none directly evaluating diosgenin for arthritis outcomes. Overall, this review emphasises the need for well-designed clinical trials to validate the therapeutic promise of diosgenin and related phytoconstituents, paving the way for safer, accessible, and multi-targeted natural interventions for arthritis management.

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, occurs abundantly in plants such as Dioscorea alata, Smilax China, and Trigonella foenum graecum. This bioactive phytochemical not only is used as an important starting material for the preparation of several steroidal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, but has revealed also high potential and interest in the treatment of various types of disorders such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia, inflammation, and several types of infections. Due to its pharmacological and industrial importance, several extraction and analytical procedures have been developed and applied over the years to isolate, detect, and quantify diosgenin, not only in its natural sources and pharmaceutical compositions, but also in animal matrices for pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological studies. Within these, HPLC technique coupled to different detectors is the most commonly analytical procedure described for this compound. However, other alternative methods were also published. Thus, the present review aims to provide collective information on the most recent pharmacological data on diosgenin and on the most relevant analytical techniques used to isolate, detect, and quantify this compound as well.

Abstract Diosgenin (DIO), a steroidal sapogenin with high therapeutic potential, has been shown to exhibit a myriad of pharmacologically significant properties and is commonly used as a template for synthesizing steroidal drugs. The efficacy of bioactive compounds as a potential drug depends mainly upon their interaction with proteins in the circulatory system. Therefore, the interaction of DIO with the major carrier proteins in humans, i.e. human serum albumin (HSA) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), was characterized using multispectroscopic and molecular docking techniques. Analysis of fluorescence enhancement data showed intermediate binding affinity for both DIO–HSA and DIO–AAG interactions. Circular dichroism spectral results revealed minimal conformational alterations in HSA upon DIO binding, but the effect on AAG was more significant. Competitive ligand displacement results suggested that DIO does not bind strongly to the main drug binding sites of HSA. However, DIO was found to favor binding to subdomain IB of HSA based on molecular docking data. For AAG, the binding location of DIO was determined for the two variants of AAG (A and F1*S variants) using molecular docking. For variant A, the binding site was situated in lobes I and II of the central binding pocket of the protein, while in variant F1*S, DIO was docked to a cleft on the protein surface. Hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals forces were mainly responsible for complexation between DIO and both proteins. Additionally, there was involvement of hydrogen bonding between DIO and both variants of AAG, but not between DIO and HSA.

Diosgenin is an aglycone of dioscin, a major bioactive steroidal saponin found in plants, including Himalayan Paris (Paris polyphylla), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and yam (Dioscorea spp.). We have previously demonstrated that a species of natural yam, Dioscorea japonica, contains a promising bioactive compound diosgenin, which induces anti-carcinogenic and anti-hypertriacylglycerolemic activities. Here, we found for the first time that Japanese yam (D. japonica) bulbils are richer in diosgenin than the edible tubers (rhizomes) and leaves. LC-MS and imaging-MS analyses revealed that diosgenin accumulated in the peripheral region of D. japonica bulbils. Additionally, we performed RNA-seq analysis of D. japonica, and multiple sequence alignment identified D. japonica CYP90 (DjCYP90), the orthologous gene of CYP90G4 in P. polyphylla, CYP90B50 in T. foenum-graecum, CYP90G6 in Dioscorea zingiberensis, and CYP90G in Dioscorea villosa, which encodes a diosgenin biosynthetic rate-limiting enzyme. The expression levels of DjCYP90 were significantly upregulated in D. japonica bulbils than in its rhizomes and leaves. Since diosgenin is one of the most promising functional food factors executing several favorable bioactivities, D. japonica bulbils rich in diosgenin would be a beneficial natural resource.

Diosgenin, a commercially important bioactive sapogenin, extracted from tubers belonging to Dioscorea species, is used as a precursor in the manufacturing of sex hormones, oral contraceptives and other pharmaceutically important steroidal drugs. Diosgenin content of two Indian variety viz., D. deltoidea and D. prazeri ranges from 0.32 - 1%. With the view to commercially exploit a new source of diosgenin, a lesser explored tuber D. alata Var purpurae (purple yam), from Western Ghats, India was studied. The diosgenin content was determined from tuber (fresh and dried) and callus of D. alata by acidic hydrolysis of the glycosides and extraction with an organic solvent, followed by the HPTLC analysis. HPTLC mobile phase was optimized to toluene: ethyl acetate 7:3 v/v using the PRISMA model and diosgenin content was found to be 0.078, 0.133 and 0.048% respectively after extraction for 8 hrs in alcohol.

… , the optimized conditions may not be directly applicable to other diosgenin-containing matrices. (ii) Peak identification was based on UHPLC-DAD spectral analysis, and confirmatory …

… of glycoprotein from the yam. Thus, the in vitro and in vivo immunoregulation activities of the yam glycoprotein … of macrophage activation by the yam glycoprotein was conducted as well. …

… Previous studies on the pharmacological activities of the yam mainly focused on its extracts [… of the yam glycoprotein are limited. Some studies showed that yam glycoprotein exhibits …

We discuss the diverse biological activities, therapeutic potential, and clinical applications of peptides and proteins isolated from various yams species including Dioscorea opposita Thunb (Chinese yam), D alata, D japonica (Japanese yam), D pseudojaponica, D batatas (Korea yam), and D cayenensis. Yam peptides and proteins have many pharmacological activities including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, estrogen-stimulating, osteogenic, angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibiting, carbonic anhydrase and trypsin inhibiting, chitinase, anti-insect, anti-dust mite, lectin, and anti-proliferative activities. Yam peptides and proteins have therapeutic potential for treating cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancers, aging disorders, menopause, and osteoporosis.

A sulfated Chinese yam polysaccharide (S-CYP) was obtained from non-starch Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP) by chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine (CSA-Pyr) method. The physicochemical characteristics and immunological activity of S-CYP were evaluated in this study. Results showed that sulfated modification changed the physicochemical properties of Chinese yam polysaccharide. Body weights and thymus index of the mice in polysaccharides group were increased compared with the cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mice in model group, and could restore the splenomegaly that caused by Cy. It also showed that S-CYP could enhance the immunomodulatory activity on splenic lymphocytes since it could increase the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and effectively cooperate with ConA to induce splenic lymphocytes differentiation into T lymphocytes. Meanwhile, the number of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes was elevated, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was restored in polysaccharides group. The levels of splenic lymphocytes cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis (TNF)-α), and the levels of immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) secretion in serum were also increased by S-CYP significantly. These findings demonstrate that CYP and S-CYP can serve as a promising immunomodulator with potential application in functional food and nutraceutical industry.

… In this report, we evaluated its immunomodulatory ability in vitro in the presence of polymyxin B … the tuber storage protein of yam dioscorin functions as an immunomodulatory substance. …

Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb), a traditional medicinal and edible plant, has attracted significant attention for its bioactive components. Chinese yam polysaccharides (CYPs) are regarded as the principal bioactive fraction responsible for its pleiotropic effects, notably immunomodulation. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in understanding the chemical structure, immunomodulatory mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships of CYPs. A core emphasis is placed on the intimate correlation between immunologic activity and specific structural determinants, including molecular weight, monosaccharide profile, glycosidic linkages, and higher-order conformation. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that CYPs are recognized by pattern recognition receptors, primarily TLR4, on the surface of immune cells such as macrophages. This recognition activates pivotal downstream signaling pathways, including NF-κB and MAPK. The subsequent orchestration of cytokine networks enables a homeostatic regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity, characterized by context-dependent immunostimulation and anti-inflammatory potential. Chemical modifications like sulfation and selenylation, alongside bioprocessing strategies such as physical, enzymatic, and fermentation treatments, significantly enhance their immunomodulatory potency. However, clinical translation faces significant hurdles, including incomplete structure-activity understanding, undefined pharmacokinetics, low oral bioavailability, challenges in quality control, and a paucity of systematic clinical safety and efficacy data. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis to inform future research and support the potential development of CYPs as novel immunomodulatory agents.

… not glycoproteins (5), whereas the dioscorins from yam tubers of … of different yam species, may have different immunomodulatory … 1 and Japanese yam raw extracts could be helpful in …

Yam tubers, a common tuber crop and an important traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan, have many bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds, mucilage polysaccharides, steroidal saponins and proteins. Among the total soluble proteins, 80% of them are dioscorins. In the past two decades, many studies showed that dioscorins exhibited biological activities both in vitro and in vivo, including the enzymatic, antioxidant, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, lectin activities and the protecting role on airway epithelial cells against allergens in vitro. Some of these activities are survived after chemical, heating process or enzymatic digestion. Despite of lacking the intact structural information and the detail action mechanisms in the cells, yam dioscorins are potential resources for developing as functional foods and interesting targets for food protein researchers.

… viscous protein from Japanese Yam (Dioscorea opposita … of mucopolysaccharide isolated from Yam (Dioscorea batatas… Purification and characterization of a novel glycoprotein from …

Yam polysaccharides are promising functional food ingredients, but the systematic understanding of how cultivar and processing synergistically determine their structure and functionality is still lacking. This study systematically investigated how hot water extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, and extrusion puffing affect the structural and functional properties of polysaccharides from two major cultivars (Dioscorea opposite cv. Tiegun and Dioscorea esculenta cv. Gaozhou). Enzymatic extraction increased yield (1.39–1.77-fold) and solubility, while hot water extraction favored purity. The monosaccharide composition was strongly cultivar-dependent, with Tiegun polysaccharides containing higher mannose levels. Extrusion puffing of Gaozhou polysaccharide improved solubility by 33.3% but induced depolymerization and aggregation, modifying colloidal and functional behaviors. Multivariate analysis revealed that processing methods primarily governed macromolecular architecture and colloidal properties, whereas cultivar determined chemical composition. These findings establish a processing–structure–property framework, enabling the tailored production of yam polysaccharides: Tiegun yam with enzymatic extraction for high bioactivity, and Gaozhou yam with extrusion puffing for superior solubility.

… 50% EtOH extract of Dioscorea nipponica using successive column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) …

… or extract). Two liquid preparations (nos 10205 and 10209) contained whole rhizome of wild yam extract … Finally, to verify this method's ability to differentiate between Dioscorea species, …

… the Chinese medical herb Dioscorea nipponica Makino, whose … extract was then collected and evaporated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator at 60 C. The powdered extract …

… , Effect of ethanol extract of dried Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) … , a steroidal saponin of yam (Dioscorea spp.), on high-… from the rhizomes of Dioscorea membranecea. Bioorg. Med. …

BackgroundDioscorea is a genus of flowering plants, and some Dioscorea species are known and used as a source for the steroidal sapogenin diosgenin. To screen potential resource from Dioscorea species and related medicinal plants for diosgenin extraction, a rapid method to compare the contents of diosgenin in various plants is crucial.ResultsAn ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method was developed for identification and determination of diosgenin in various plants. A comprehensive validation of the developed method was conducted. Twenty-four batches of plant samples from four Dioscorea species, one Smilax species and two Heterosmilax species were analyzed by using the developed method.The present method presented good sensitivity, precision and accuracy. Diosgenin was found in three Dioscorea species and one Heterosmilax species, namely D. zingiberensis, D. septemloba, D. collettii and H. yunnanensis.ConclusionThe method is suitable for the screening of diosgenin resources from plants. D. zingiberensis is an important resource for diosgenin harvesting.

… A large number of polysaccharides are present in boiling-water extraction of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. A DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography was used to isolate the …

… applied to crude extracts from Dioscorea deltoidea tuber and to oily crude extracts from the seeds of … The over-all error of the procedure, including sampling, extraction and infrared …

… extraction yield, shorter extraction time and simpler operation. The mechanism in MAEH-TPE process was explored in detail by chromatographic … rate of the extracted diosgenin on …

Peptic ulcer is a common disease in gastroenterology clinics. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antiulcer, and antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Dioscorea praehensilis rhizomes. The rhizomes were extracted by macerating in 80% methanol and subjected to chemical profiling using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The assessment of anti-ulcer activity was done using ethanol and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in rats while the antioxidant studies were conducted using quantitative analysis of phenolic (total phenols and total flavonoid) compounds, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. D. praehensilis extracts at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg ‘per os’ (PO) exhibited a significant (p<0.01) dose-dependent decrease in gastric lesions with the percentage inhibition of 65.16, 68.20, and 79.64% respectively in the ethanol model and 81.89, 90.44, and 95.35% in the indomethacin model compared with the control group. D. praehensilis extract contained high phenolic and flavonoid content. The extract also showed considerable antioxidant activity in the DPPH, TAC and FRAP assays. Furthermore, D. praehensilis contains bioactive constituents such as Pentadecanoic acid, 9-Eicosene, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 4-tert-butylphenol and Pentacosane. In conclusion, D. praehensilis possesses antiulcer and antioxidant activity, supporting its traditional use in treating ulcers and dyspepsia.

… chromatogram of the crude extract of D. zingiberensis cell cultures. Compared to the chromatogram of … except diosgenin in the extract, but the peak of diosgenin in crude extract could …

… densitometer trace forthe same extract from a sample of Dioscorea deltoidea tuber powder under (A) … Chromatographic separations and densitometer traces from an extract of Dioscorea …

Abstract Wild yams (Dioscorea spp.) are medicinal plants rich in secondary metabolites of pharmacological interest, mostly allantoin and steroidal saponins. Their natural populations are overexploited and endangered. Cultivated yams could represent an alternative source of metabolites if interesting varieties could be selected. The objectives of the present study were to develop an HPTLC protocol for the simultaneous quantification of allantoin and steroidal saponins in dried yam powders, to compare species and varieties originating from distant geographical origins and to assess their potential as a source of secondary metabolites. Overall, 1151 accessions belonging to six cultivated species were analysed (1000 acc. from Nigeria, and 146 acc. from Vanuatu) and were compared to five commercial powders of wild yam (D. villosa). Allantoin, dioscin, gracillin, protodioscin, protogracillin and five unknown saponins were quantified. Dioscorea villosa powders varied in content and composition, with allantoin ranging from 0.23 to 22.35 mg/g (DW) and total saponins from 37.36 to 129.97 mg/g. Allantoin was present in the six species, with highest values in D. bulbifera bulbils (20.38 mg/g) and D. cayenensis tubers (17.12 mg/g). Steroidal saponins were quantified in three species, D. cayenensis, D. esculenta and D. rotundata, but were absent in D. alata, D. bulbifera and D. dumetorum. Mean total saponins contents were 42.15 mg/g in D. cayenensis, 17.65 mg/g in D. esculenta and 17/44 mg/g in D. rotundata, with accessions presenting very high values in D. cayenensis (78.31 mg/g) and D. rotundata (69.65 mg/g). For both allantoin and saponins, variation was observed within tubers and the tuber peel was richer than the flesh. Cultivated yam species represent a sustainable source of allantoin and steroidal saponins which could be further increased through conventional breeding.

… Diosgenin (CAS No.: 512-04-9) hydrolyzed from Dioscorea zingiberensis CH Wright is a … of H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution, volume of extraction solvent, reaction temperature, duration of …

… in conjunction with thin-layer chromatography to find the site of … extract was then examined by thin-layer chromatography. If only a qualitative assessment by thin-layer chromatography is …