Dioscorea composita
Dioscorea composita, commonly known as the composite yam, is a perennial climbing herb valued in traditional medicine. Native to various subtropical regions, its tubers contain bioactive compounds used to treat inflammatory conditions and digestive issues. This medicinal plant offers significant therapeutic potential for managing various ailments through its unique phytochemical profile.
- Scientific name: Dioscorea composita
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Dioscorea composita, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Dioscoreales and the family Dioscoreaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Dioscorea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Dioscoreales | WCVP |
| Family | Dioscoreaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dioscorea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Dioscorea composita, is referred to by different common names depending on the language. In Arabic, it is called ديسقوريا مركبة, while in Chinese, its common name is 菊叶薯蓣.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | ديسقوريا مركبة | Wikidata |
| zh | 菊叶薯蓣 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning multiple regions of Mexico and parts of Central America. Within Mexico, it can be found across the Central, Gulf, Southwest, and Southeast territories. Its presence extends beyond the Mexican borders into the neighboring country of Belize. This diverse range highlights the plant's ability to inhabit various ecological zones across these regions. Ultimately, the species is well-established throughout these specific areas of North and Central America.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dioscorea composita, utilizes its leaves as a key structural and physiological component, which are typically characterized by their specific shape and arrangement along the stem. These leaves play a vital role in the plant's metabolic processes, such as photosynthesis, and serve as a primary identifier for botanical classification. In many medicinal species within the Dioscorea genus, the morphological characteristics of the leaves are essential for distinguishing the plant from other similar-looking climbers.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dioscorea composita has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include MDA, NaCl, PA, PAs, Proanthocyanidins.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| MDA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NaCl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PAs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ROS | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abscisic acid (ABA) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citronellyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| elemol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| farnesol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dioscorea composita has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include salt stress, drought, osmotic stress, salinity, salt tolerance.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| salt stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| drought | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osmotic stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salinity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salt tolerance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salt tolerances | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |