Yacón
Smallanthus sonchifolius · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (257 studies) · ★★★★★
Yacón, scientifically known as Smallanthus sonchifolius, is a versatile perennial plant native to the Andes. Highly valued for its edible tubers, it serves as a nutritious, low-calorie food source. Beyond nutrition, it is prized in traditional medicine for its prebiotic properties and potential benefits in managing blood sugar levels.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaf
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Polymnia Edulis · Polymnia Sonchifolia · 1 more
Names
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Yacon
- Polymnia sonchifolia
- Yacón
- jiquimilla
- jíquima
- llacón
- yacón
- jícama
German:
- Yacón
- Polymnia edulis
- Yacon
- Polymnia sonchifolia
- Smallanthus sonchifolia
French:
- Poire de terre
- Yacón
- poire de terre
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Smallanthus sonchifoliusSynonyms
- Polymnia edulis
- Polymnia sonchifolia
- Silphium edule
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling within the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Smallanthus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Smallanthus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions within East Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central and North-Central territories. Its distribution also extends to the southeastern parts of the country and the island of Hainan. Additionally, the species is documented as growing in the region of Taiwan. Together, these areas define its primary geographical range.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as yerba buena, possesses various components that are utilized for medicinal purposes. The most significant parts are the large, green leaves, which are frequently prepared as infusions or topical applications. Below the ground, the plant develops starchy tubers that serve as a nutrient storage organ. When considering the entire structure above the soil, the aerial part of the species includes the stems and foliage, all of which contribute to its overall botanical profile.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | European journal of nutrition (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Smallanthus sonchifolius has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Enhydrin, Sonchifolin, UVEDALIN, Ash, CALCIUM.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Enhydrin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Sonchifolin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| UVEDALIN | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ash | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CALCIUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| FAT | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fluctuanin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| IRON | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PHOSPHORUS | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Enhydrin
- Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Sonchifolin
- Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
UVEDALIN
- Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
Ash
- Dr. Duke
CALCIUM
- Dr. Duke
FAT
- Dr. Duke
Flavonoids
- International journal of molecular sciences
Fluctuanin
- Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
IRON
- Dr. Duke
PHOSPHORUS
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Smallanthus sonchifolius has 213 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Chemopreventive, Cytoprotective.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acidulant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Androgenic? | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Smallanthus sonchifolius has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Depression, arteriosclerosis, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Depression | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arteriosclerosis | European journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglycemia | European journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative damage | Cell biology and toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative injury | European journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| aqueous extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous leaf extracts | Cell biology and toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf methanol extracts | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicinal tea | European journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicinal teas | Cell biology and toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | Data in brief (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |