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.
Habitat: The sub-Himalayan tract from Garhwal to Sikkim; also in Chakrata range.
Folk: Ratanjot (var.), Rowana. Surasi is a doubtful synonym.Action: Bark—anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic; used in veterinary medicine for wounds and sprains.
Aerial parts contain coumarins— clausmarins A and B. Coumarins exhibit spasmolytic activity. The root also contains coumarins. Root and stem bark of Clausena excavata Burm. f. Eastern sub-Himalayan tract, Orissa and Bihar) also contain coumarins— clausenin and clausenidin. The root bark exhibits antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria.A related species, C. anisata (Willd.) Oliver, is reported from Uttar Pradesh. Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited spasmolytic activity. The fu- ranocoumarins, anisolactone, xantho- toxol, indicolactone, imperatorin and 2', 3'-epoxy-anisolactone have been isolated from the extract.In West African traditional medicine, the decoction of the root is given to control convulsions in children. The anticonvulsant agent has been found to be heliettin, extracted from the stem bark and roots.... clausena pentaphyllaHabitat: 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.)... dioscorea alataHabitat: 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
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 bulbiferaAction: 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 daemonaHabitat: 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
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
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
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
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
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 prazeriHabitat: Peninsular India and Andaman Islands. Cultivated in gardens.
Ayurvedic: Vana-nimbuukaa, Ashwa-shaakhota.Siddha/Tamil: Konji, Amam, Kula-pannai.Folk: Bana-Nimbu, Paanal (Kerala).Action: Plant—bechic, anti- anaemic, antirheumatic. Root— anti-inflammatory. Leaf—used in Jaundice and liver disorders, eczema and other skin affections. Leaf and root—vermifuge, febrifuge. A paste of the wood is applied externally to pimples.
Leaf extract from a Sri Lankan plant yielded the alkaloids arborine, skim- mianine and arborinine. The steam distillate of leaves showed significant antifungal activity.... glycosmis pentaphylla
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