Yam
Dioscorea · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (50 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Yam, scientifically known as Dioscorea, is a diverse genus of flowering plants valued globally for both nutrition and medicine. Rich in bioactive compounds like diosgenin, these tubers offer significant therapeutic potential, particularly in regulating hormones, managing diabetes, and reducing inflammation, making them essential in traditional and modern pharmacology.
- Family
- Dioscoreaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Rhizome
- Common names
- Yam · Cinnamon Vines
- Scientific synonyms
- Oncus · Oncorhiza · 21 more
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- yam
- Cinnamon vines
Scientific Names
Accepted name
DioscoreaSynonyms
- Oncus
- Oncorhiza
- Merione
- Helmia
- Higinbothamia
- Tamus
- Testudinaria
- Strophis
- Sismondaea
- Rhizemys
- Borderea
- Botryosicyos
- Epipetrum
- Elephantodon
- Ubium
- Ricophora
- Hamatris
- Tamnus
- Raja
- Nanarepenta
- Hyperocarpa
- Polynome
- Peripetasma
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Ñame
- Jaboncillo
- Ñames y barbascos
- Ñamo
German:
- Yams
- Yamswurzeln
- Jamswurzel
- Yamswurzel
- Yam
- Schmerwurz
- Yams
- Yamswurzel
French:
- igname
- Ignames
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales. Finally, it is a member of the family Dioscoreaceae within the genus Dioscorea.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Dioscoreales |
| Family | Dioscoreaceae |
| Genus | Dioscorea |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, it is also established in Middle Europe. Specifically, the species is documented in countries such as Austria and Belgium. Finally, its geographical range extends to include Germany within the Middle European region.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Northern Europe | Ireland |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
| Middle Europe | Belgium |
| Middle Europe | Germany |
| Middle Europe | Hungary |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse |
| Southwestern Europe | France |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Plant Parts
Dioscorea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Rhizome | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
Rhizome
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
- Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
Chemicals
Dioscorea has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIOSGENIN, Steroids, AMYLOSE, Clerodane Diterpenes, Cyclic peptides.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| DIOSGENIN | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Steroids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| AMYLOSE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Clerodane Diterpenes | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cyclic peptides | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phenols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Terpenoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| emodin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
DIOSGENIN
- Journal of medicinal food
- Chinese medicine
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Steroids
- Natural products and bioprospecting
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
AMYLOSE
- Carbohydrate research
Clerodane Diterpenes
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Cyclic peptides
- Natural products and bioprospecting
Flavonoids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Phenols
- Natural products and bioprospecting
Saponins
- Frontiers in plant science
Terpenoids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
emodin
- Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
Activities
Dioscorea has 12 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Estrogenic, Hypolipidemic, Adjuvant, Androgenic.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adjuvant | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Androgenic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Contraceptive | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Antioxidant
- Journal of medicinal food
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Estrogenic
- Planta medica
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Hypolipidemic
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Adjuvant
- Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
Androgenic
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Antidiabetic
- Journal of medicinal food
Antiproliferative
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Antitumor
- Journal of medicinal food
Contraceptive
- Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
Hypoglycemic
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Conditions
Dioscorea has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, antidiabetic, atherosclerosis, contraceptive, diarrhea.
| Condition | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Atherosclerosis | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Contraceptive | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diarrhea | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dysentery | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Human immunodeficiency virus | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lipid peroxidation | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Liver cancer | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Melanoma | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Cancer
- Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Antidiabetic
- Journal of medicinal food
Atherosclerosis
- Food & function
Contraceptive
- Chinese medicine
Diarrhea
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Dysentery
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Human immunodeficiency virus
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Lipid peroxidation
- Journal of nanobiotechnology
Liver cancer
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Melanoma
- Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
Preparations
Dioscorea has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dioscorea extracts (DEs), compounds (DCs), essential oil.
| Preparation | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Dioscorea extracts (des) | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Compounds (dcs) | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Essential oil | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Dioscorea extracts (des)
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Compounds (dcs)
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Essential oil
- TheScientificWorldJournal