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Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

Summary
It is commonly known as Taro and also as Arbi. It belongs to the family Araceae. Both tuber and leaves are consumed as vegetable. It contains the bioactive markers like - phylloquinone, Tarin, α-carotene, α-Tocopherol, β-cryptoxanthin, Lycopene. Hemagglutinin of taro at 0.893 μM upregulated expression of cytokines including IL1-β, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α.

Mode of Consumption : Boiled, fried and cooked
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
Family: Araceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Alismatales
Genus: Colocasia Schott
Fruiting Season: July-October
Parts: Corm, Tender leaves
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Chamadumpa, Chemagadda
Assam : Kochu, Thaso, Thaso gwswm
Bihar : Arvi, Kachalu, Ghuiya
Karnataka : Kachchi, Shamagadde
Kerala : Shembu
Maharashtra : Alu
Odisha : Saru
Tamil Nadu : Seppan-kizangun
Uttar Pradesh : Arvi
West bengal : Kachu

Corm


Plant
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
Water-soluble extractAntimetastaticWater-soluble extract of taro completely blocked tumor cell migration. The extract also inhibited prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and downregulated cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2 mRNA expression.PGE2, COX-1, COX-2[1]
TarinImmunomodulatoryIn a murine model, tarin stimulated the in vitro and in vivo proliferation of total spleen and bone marrow cells, especially B lymphocytes. [2]
TarinImmunomodulatoryTarin decreased leukopenia in immunosuppressed mice. Promoted repopulation of Bone marrow granulocytic Gr1+ cells. [3]
HemagglutininImmunomodulatoryTaro hemagglutinin (concentration of 0.893 μM) increased expression of cytokines including IL1-β, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α.IL1-β, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α[4]
TarinAnti-tumorLiposomal tarin nanocapsules inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, with IC50 of 71.38 µg/mL. [6]
PolysaccharideAntimetastaticIsolated polysaccharide inhibited the lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells. [7]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
AlkaloidCaffeine: [8]
AmidesAllantoin: [2]
Amino AcidArginine: 220 mg/100g, Cystine: 64 mg/100g, Histidine: 114 mg/100g, Isoleucine: 260 g/100g, Leucine: 392 mg/100g, Lysine: 246 mg/100g, Methionine: 79 mg/100g, Phenylalanine: 195 mg/100g, Threonine: 167 mg/100g, Tryptophan: 48 mg/100g, Tyrosine: 178 mg/100g, Valine: 256 mg/100g[8]
CarotenoidLutein: , Lycopene: , Zeaxanthin: , α-Carotene: , β-Carotene: 2.9 mg/100g, β-Cryptoxanthin: [8]
Organophosphorus CompoundsTarin: [2]
SteroidsDiosgenin: [3]
VitaminAscorbic acid (Shoot): 52 mg/100g, Phylloquinone: 0.109 mg/100g, α-Tocopherol: 2.38 mg/100g[8]
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • All parts are edible. It contains vitamin A 40 I.U. per 100g, vitamin B1 80 I.U. per 100g and vitamin C trace.
  • The pressed juice of the petioles are used as a styptic or astringent.
CSIR(1950).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-II ,P.310-312, New Delhi, India
4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.1.3, 4.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India