Dioscorea pentaphylla
Dioscorea pentaphyllla, commonly known as the five-leaf yam, is a climbing medicinal herb valued in traditional pharmacology. Native to various tropical regions, this plant is prized for its bioactive compounds, which offer potential therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it a subject of significant ethnobotanical interest.
- Scientific name: Dioscorea pentaphylla
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales, it falls under the family Dioscoreaceae. Finally, it is specifically 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 pentaphyllia, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Japan, it is called アケビドコロ (ja), while in China, it is known as 五叶薯蓣 (zh). In Thailand, the plant is called มันคันขาว (th), and in the Tamil language, it is identified as வள்ளி (கொடி) (ta). Additionally, in Arabic, it is referred to as ديسقوريا خماسية الأوراق (ar).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | アケビドコロ | Wikidata |
| zh | 五叶薯蓣 | Wikidata |
| th | มันคันขาว | Wikidata |
| ta | வள்ளி (கொடி) | Wikidata |
| ar | ديسقوريا خماسية الأوراق | Wikidata |
| ms | Ubi pasir | Wikidata |
| ml | നല്ലനൂറ | Wikidata |
| bn | কাঁটা আলু | Wikidata |
| ko | 디오스코리아 펜타필라 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 五叶薯蓣 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is widely documented in the South-Central, Southeast, and Tibet regions. Furthermore, it can be found growing on the island of Hainan. Beyond the mainland, its distribution extends to the Nansei-shoto islands in Eastern Asia. Collectively, these locations highlight the specific ecological niches where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Chemicals
Dioscorea pentaphylla has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include silver nanoparticles.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| silver nanoparticles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dioscorea pentaphylla has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include biofilm.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| biofilm | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |