Yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yam
• Cinnamon vines

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• 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

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.

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.

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.

Rhizome

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. 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.

DIOSGENIN

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Chinese medicine
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Steroids

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

AMYLOSE

1. Carbohydrate research

Clerodane Diterpenes

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Cyclic peptides

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phenols

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Saponins

1. Frontiers in plant science

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

emodin

1. 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.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Estrogenic

1. Planta medica
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Hypolipidemic

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Adjuvant

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Androgenic

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of medicinal food

Antiproliferative

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Antitumor

1. Journal of medicinal food

Contraceptive

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Dioscorea has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, antidiabetic, atherosclerosis, contraceptive, diarrhea.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations