Dioscorea japonica
Japanese potato
Dioscorea japonica, commonly known as Japanese yam, is a perennial climbing vine native to East Asia. Valued in traditional medicine, its tuberous roots contain bioactive compounds like diosgenin. These properties support hormonal balance and anti-inflammatory benefits, making this versatile plant a significant subject in both ethnobotany and pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Dioscorea japonica
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Dioscorea japonica, 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 situated within 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 japonica, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 日本薯蓣 (zh), while in Korean, it is called 참마 (ko). The Japanese name for this species is ヤマノイモ (ja), and in Malay, it is known as Ubi jepun (ms). Additionally, in Russian, the plant is called Диоскорея японская (ru).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 日本薯蓣 | Wikidata |
| ko | 참마 | Wikidata |
| ja | ヤマノイモ | Wikidata |
| ms | Ubi jepun | Wikidata |
| ru | Диоскорея японская | Wikidata |
| ar | ديسقوريا يابانية | Wikidata |
| fa | یم کوهی ژاپنی | Wikidata |
| eo | Japana dioskoreo | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 日本薯蓣 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 日本薯蓣 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed throughout various regions of Eastern Asia. In China, its presence is noted in both the South-Central and Southeast territories. The species is also widely found across the islands of Japan, including the specific area of Ogasawara-shoto. Furthermore, its range extends into the Korean Peninsula. Together, these locations define the natural habitat of Dioscorea japonica.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Ogasawara-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
Activities
Dioscorea japonica has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Lectin, Osteogenic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Osteogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dioscorea japonica has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, depression, memory deficits, menopause.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| memory deficits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| menopause | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osteoporosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |