Review on Dioscorea alata and its Pharmacological application

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 02 | Page : 80 86
    By

    Prashant Wagh,

  • Abhijit V. Shrirao,

  • A.V. Chandewar,

  1. Student, Department of Pharmacy, Pataldhaml Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Moha Phata, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India
  2. Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pataldhaml Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Moha Phata, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India
  3. Principal & Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pataldhaml Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Moha Phata, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Dioscorea alata, also known as water yam, is an important crop found worldwide. About 600 different species have been reported worldwide. Many nations, including South America, Africa, Australia, and the southern United States, cultivate D. alata. D. Alata is a member of the Discordance family and has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant qualities. Dioscorea’s metabolites include phenolic chemicals, which reduce sugars, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, proteins, tannins and others. Alkali, mucin, allantoin, crude oil etc., crude fiber, catechins, chlorogenic acid, proanthocyanidins, myricetin, diosgenin and sapogenin. Diosgenin is one of the major steroid glycosides and has been reported to have many activities such as anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory inflammation and cardioprotective activity. Diosgenin has antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities and is beneficial in the treatment of heart disease. Also, it has been demonstrated that diosgenin increases glutathione, SOD, and catalase activity while decreasing oxidative stress. Diosgenin has been reported to inhibit apoptosis by reducing the activity of the pro-apoptotic factor caspase 9. In addition, bioactive compounds including diosgenin, anthocyanins, and D. alata tuber dietary fiber can prevent hyperlipidemia by normalizing blood lipids. Nevertheless, further investigation is required to examine the impact of D. alata on cardiovascular conditions.

Keywords: Dioscorea alata, Diosgenin, Anti-oxidant, pharmacological potentials, purple yam.

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy ]

How to cite this article:
Prashant Wagh, Abhijit V. Shrirao, A.V. Chandewar. Review on Dioscorea alata and its Pharmacological application. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2025; 12(02):80-86.
How to cite this URL:
Prashant Wagh, Abhijit V. Shrirao, A.V. Chandewar. Review on Dioscorea alata and its Pharmacological application. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2025; 12(02):80-86. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjopc/article=2025/view=213439


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 12
Issue 02
Received 08/05/2025
Accepted 29/05/2025
Published 16/06/2025
Publication Time 39 Days



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