Dioscorea alata Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Dioscorea Alata

Dioscorea Alata: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Synonym: D. atropurpurea Roxb. D. globosa Roxb. D. purpurea Roxb.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Native to East Asia; cultivated in Assam, Vadodara, Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

English: Wild Yam, Greater Yam, Asiatic Yam.

Ayurvedic: Kaashthaaluka. Aaluka (var.). Aalukas (yams) of Ayurvedic texts, belong to Dioscorea spp.

Siddha/Tamil: Perumvalli kizhangu.

Folk: Kathaalu.

Action: Even the best among the cultivated yams causes irritation in the throat or a feeling of discomfort when eaten raw. Wild yams—cholagogue, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, diuretic. Also used for painful periods, cramps and muscle tension.

Key application: Dioscorea villosa L., Wild Yam—as spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The edible tubers of Dioscorea alata are purple-coloured and contain an- thocyanins, cyanidin and peonidin- 3-gentiobioside acylated with sinapic acid. The tubers contain surcose, while leaves contain large quantities of D- fructose, D-glucose and the polyols, 2-deoxyribitol, 6-deoxysorbitol and glycerol.

Mouldy yams are reported to contain a compound ipomeanol which is being tested against human lung cancer. (J. Am Med Assoc, 1994,15, 23.)

Diosgenin obtained from Dioscorea species was used in the first commercial production of oral contraceptives, topical hormones, systemic corticos- teroids, androgens, estrogens, pro- gestogens and other sex hormones.

The chemical transformation of di- osgenin to estrogen, progesterone or any other steroidal compound does not occur in human body. Topically applied Wild Yam does not appear to cause changes in serum FSH, estradi- ol or progesterone. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Diosgenin, combined with the drug clofibrate, caused a greater decrease in LDL than either substance alone in rats. (Sharon M. Herr.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Cassia Alata

Linn.

Cassia absus Linn.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India.

Ayurvedic: Chakshushyaa, Aranya- kulathhikaa, Kataka.

Unani: Chaaksu.

Siddha/Tamil: Muulaipalyirai, Kaattukollu.

Folk: BanKulathi.

Action: Seed—bitter, blood-purifier, astringent, stimulant, diuretic. Used topically for leucoderma, ringworm, venereal ulcers and other skin diseases. Roots—purgative.

Seeds gave sitosterol-beta-D-gluco- side and alkaloids—chaksine and iso- chaksine. Chaksine is found to be antibacterial against Micrococcus pyo- genes var. aureus and Streptococcus haemolyticus. It stimulates contraction of different tissues of plain muscles, like uterus, intestine, bladder, and muscles in blood vessels. It depresses the parasympathetic nerve- endings of certain organs like intestine

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Native to the West Indies. Found wild almost throughout India.

English: Ringworm Cassia.

Ayurvedic: Dadrughna, Dadrumar- dana.

Siddha: Malanthakerai, Seemai agathi (Tamil).

Folk: Daadmaari.

Action: Leaf—used in skin diseases like herpes, blotch, eczema, mycosis (washerman's itch). Dried leaves— in leprosy. A strong decoction is used for ringworm, eczema and herpes. Leaves are also used as a purgative.

Young pods contain rhein, emodin and aloe-emodin. The antibacterial activity of the leaves is reported to be due to rhein. The roots contain an- thraquinone. Emodin, aloe-emodin and anthraquinone contribute to the purgative activity of the leaves and roots. Crushed leaves or roots are rubbed on to the skin to cure ringworm and to control Tinea imbricata, a skin fungus.... cassia alata

Dioscorea Anguina

Roxb.

Synonym: D. puber Blume.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Wet regions of the Himalayas from Central Nepal, eastwards to northern Bengal, Assam and Chittagong.

Ayurvedic: Kaasaalu, Kasaalu.

Folk: Koshakanda (Bengal).

Action: See D. alata.... dioscorea anguina

Dioscorea Bulbifera

Linn.

Synonym: D. sativa Thumb auct. non L.D. versicolor Buch.-Ham ex Wall.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Throughout tropical India, at 1,500-2,100 m.

English: Patoto Yam, Bulb-bearing Yam, Air Potato, Dog Yam.

Ayurvedic: Vaaraahi, Vaaraahikan- da, Grshti, Banaaalu, Suraalu, Raktaalu. Substitute for Vriddhi.

Unani: Baraahikand.

Siddha/Tamil: Kodi-kilangu, Pannu-kilangu.

Action: Dried and pounded tubers are used as an application for swellings, boils and ulcers; roasted tubers are used in dysentery, piles, venereal sores. Leaf—febrifuge.

The raw tubers are bitter due to the presence of furanoid norditerpenes (they lose their bitterness on roasting and are then eaten). The wild tubers contain nearly 83% starch and possess hunger-suppressing property. They contain certain poisonous alkaloids.

The rhizomes afforded D-sorbitol, furanoid norditerpenes—diosbulbins A-D, 2,4,6,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-dihy- drophenanthrene and 2,4,5,6,-tetra- hydroxyphenanthrene, diosgenin, lucein, neoxanthine, violaxanthin, zeax- anthin, auroxanthin and cyrptoxan- thin.... dioscorea bulbifera

Dioscorea Daemona

Roxb.

Ayurvedic: Hastyaaluka.

Siddha/Tamil: Peiperendai.

Folk: Karukandu, Kolo (Bihar).

Action: Tubers—used for ulcer, to kill worms in wounds. Plant parts— used in whitlow, sores, boils.

The tubers contain 81.45-81.8 carbohydrates, 7.20-9.12% albuminoids. The toxic principle is dioscorine which is distributed throughout the plant.... dioscorea daemona

Dioscorea Glabra

Roxb.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Ayurvedic: Shankhaaluka.

Action: Tubers contain 77.7978.23% carbohydrates, 9.73-10.13% albuninoids.... dioscorea glabra

Dioscorea Hamiltonii

Hook. f.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: The Western Ghats, Sikkim, Assam, Orissa and Bengal.

Ayurvedic: Vaaraahi (var.).

Folk: Naagar-kanda (Bihar).

Action: Tubers contain 85.50% carbohydrates, 8.30% albuminoids.... dioscorea hamiltonii

Dioscorea Oppositifolia

Linn.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: South India; throughout the hills of Deccan.

Ayurvedic: Amlikaakanda (controversial synonym).

Siddha: Kavala-kodi, Venilai Valli.

Folk: Aambaalio Kanda (Gujarat).

Action: Used externally for reducing swellings.... dioscorea oppositifolia

Dioscorea Deltoidea

Wall ex Griseb.

Synonym: D. nepalensis Sweet ex Bernardi.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: The Himalaya from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh and in Assam at 450-3,100 m.

Ayurvedic: Vaaraahikanda (var.), Grishti.

Folk: Gun, Kris (Punjab).

Action: Tuber—antipthiriac. Leaf— febrifuge. The rhizomes are a rich source of diogenin and its glycoside. Steroidal saponins have also been isolated. Diogenin is used in the preparation of various steroidal drugs.

Synonym: D. hispada Dennst. D. hirsuta Dennst.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Sikkim, the Himalayas, Khasi Hills.... dioscorea deltoidea

Dioscorea Esculenta

Burkill.

Synonym: D. aculeata Linn. D. faciculata Roxb. D. spinosa Roxb ex Wall.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bengal, Assam and the Andamans.

English: Lesser Yam, Karen Potato.

Ayurvedic: Madhvaaluka.

Siddha/Tamil: Musilam, Valli kilangu, Siruvalli Kilangu.

Folk: Suthani.

Action: Tubers are starchy and free from dioscorine, contain 71.29% carbohydrates, 10.82% albuminoids.... dioscorea esculenta

Dioscorea Pentaphylla

Linn.

Synonym: D. triphylla var. doemona Prain & Burkill.

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical Asia; distributed throughout India.

Ayurvedic: Vaaraahikanda (var., dry pieces are sold as Vidaarikanda).

Folk: Kaantaalu.

Action: Tubers contain 71.0780.77% carbohydrates, 8.68-15.93% albuminoids. Tubers are used to disperse swellings.... dioscorea pentaphylla

Dioscorea Prazeri

Prain & Burkill.

Synonym: D. Clarkei Prain & Burkill D. deltoidea Wall. var. sikkimensis Prain

Family: Dioscoreaceae.

Habitat: The Himalaya from Nepal to Bhutan, up to 1,500 m, also in Naga Hills.

Ayurvedic: Neelaalu.

Action: Tuber—antiphthiriac.

The rhizomes are used as a hair wash for killing lice. They contain diogenin (on dry basis) 2.5%. Also obtained are steroidal sapogenins, sito- sterol glucoside, prazerigenin-A gluco- side, prazerigenin-A bioside and 9,10- dihydrophenanthrenes.... dioscorea prazeri

Laggera Alata

Sch.- Bip. ex Oliver.

Family: Asteraceae, Compositae.

Habitat: Throughout India, ascending up to 2,100 m in the hills. (Native to tropical Africa and Madagascar.)

Folk: Amadok (Garhwal).

Action: Disinfectant.

The plant is one of the major ingredients of an ointment used in the treatment of skin tumours in Chinese medicine. In Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Tanganyika, different parts of the plant are used for the treatment of intercostal pain, rheumatic pain and fever. The leaf and root decoctions are used to treat pneumonia.

The plant from Nigeria was found rich in phenolic ethers (45%), followed by monoterpenes (22%) and sesquiterpenes (12%). The major component of the oil was dimethyl thy- moquinone (44%). It showed activity against Gram-positive microorganisms. Dried powder of the plant contained artemisetin (artemetin).... laggera alata

Naregamia Alata

Wight & Arn.

Family: Meliaceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, up to 1,000 m.

English: Goanese Ipecacuanha.

Folk: Nilanaaringa, Bhumi- Naagaranga. Pitta-vela, Tinpaani (Maharashtra).

Action: Root—emetic, cholagogue, expectorant, antidysenteric; plant— antirheumatic; leaf and stem— antibilious.

Creeping roots possess properties similar to ipecacuanha (Cephaelis ipecacuanha).

The plant is used in prescriptions for malarial and chronic fevers, anaemia and enlarged spleen.

The root and stem gave heneicosane, beta-sitosterol, stearic and palmitic acids.... naregamia alata

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches