Dioscorea spongiosa
Dioscorea spongiosa, commonly known as the sponge yam, is a climbing tuberous plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its nutritional value and medicinal properties, this species is utilized in traditional medicine to address various ailments. Its unique bioactive compounds offer significant potential for pharmacological research and therapeutic applications.
- Scientific name: Dioscorea spongiosa
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Dioscoreales and the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Dioscorea as Dioscorea spongiosa.
| 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 spongiosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Arabic, it is called ديسقوريا إسفنجية, while in Chinese, it is identified as 绵萆薢 (which is also used for the language codes zh, zh-hans, and zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | ديسقوريا إسفنجية | Wikidata |
| zh | 绵萆薢 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 绵萆薢 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 绵萆薢 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence within the diverse landscapes of China. Its primary distribution is concentrated in the South-Central region of the country. Additionally, the species can be found extending into the Southeast part of China. These distinct areas highlight its preference for certain regional climates and topographies. Consequently, its geographical footprint is limited to these specific southeastern and south-central territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Dioscorea spongiosa, is characterized by its specific anatomical structures used in traditional medicine. While many members of the Dioscorea genus are recognized for their tuberous roots, the medicinal properties of this particular species are often associated with its specialized underground storage organs. Specifically, the rhizomes serve as the primary part of the plant utilized for its bioactive compounds, acting as a reservoir for the nutrients and chemical constituents necessary for its therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rhizomes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dioscorea spongiosa has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dioscin, Diosgenin, Tigogenin, dioscin, gracillin.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dioscin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diosgenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tigogenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dioscin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gracillin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglaucin G | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl protodioscin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| protodioscin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| protogracillin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| spongioside A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dioscorea spongiosa has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hyperuricemia, xanthine oxidase.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hyperuricemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xanthine oxidase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |