colic root

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• colic root
• four-leaved yam
• wild yam
• wild yam root
• yam root
• Yellow Yam
• Chinaroot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dioscorea villosa subsp. glabrifolia
• Dioscorea villosa var. glabrifolia
• Dioscorea villosa f. glabrifolia
• Dioscorea villosa subsp. glauca
• Dioscorea villosa subsp. hirticaulis
• Dioscorea villosa var. hirticaulis
• Dioscorea paniculata
• Merione villosa
• Dioscorea villosa subsp. quaternata
• Dioscorea hexaphylla
• Dioscorea villosa var. glabra
• Dioscorea waltheri
• Dioscorea villosa var. laeviuscula
• Dioscorea villosa subsp. paniculata
• Dioscorea sativa
• Dioscorea quaternata
• Dioscorea quaternata var. glauca
• Dioscorea quinata
• Dioscorea megaptera
• Dioscorea lloydiana
• Dioscorea paniculata var. glabrifolia
• Dioscorea hirticaulis
• Dioscorea cliffortiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dioscoreales, it is a member of the family Dioscoreaceae. It is specifically classified under the genus Dioscorea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide range of habitats across the North American landscape. In Eastern Canada, its presence is specifically noted within the province of Ontario. Moving into the North-Central United States, the species is well-distributed across several key states. It can be found growing in the fertile regions of Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. Additionally, its geographical reach extends northward into the state of Minnesota.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea villosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, it relies on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, ensuring its long-term survival in its habitat. This survival strategy is further supported by its classification as a cryptophyte, meaning its vital regenerative parts are protected beneath the soil surface, shielded from external stressors.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea villosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb, which utilizes an obligatory climbing habit to ascend toward light sources. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, relying instead on its own metabolic processes for sustenance. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial plant, establishing its root systems and life cycle within the soil rather than as an epiphyte.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea villosa is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and a highly uniform seed production profile. The flowering cycle typically commences in April and continues through June, though the timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a remarkably consistent mass; the seed mass is recorded at a constant value of 0.0107 g, with the mean, maximum, and minimum measurements all aligning at this exact weight.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass mean:

0.0107 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dioscorea villosa has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIOSGENIN, ALUMINUM, Ash, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM.

DIOSGENIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPESTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

Clionasterol

1. Fitoterapia

Dioscoreavilloside A

1. Planta medica

Activities

Dioscorea villosa has 324 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Hypolipidemic, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Absorbent.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amphiglycemic?

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dioscorea villosa has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, aging, brain injury, cancers.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Parkinson's disease

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Aging

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Brain injury

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Cancers

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Cognitive impairment

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Glioma

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Hyperlipidemia

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Infections

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Inflammation

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Preparations

Dioscorea villosa has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gracillin, aqueous extracts, plant extract, wild yam root.

Gracillin

1. Frontiers in oncology

Aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Plant extract

1. Journal of natural products

Wild yam root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR