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Dioscorea alata L.

Summary

It is commonly known as Kath-alu. It belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae. It is cultivated for its tubers and considered as an immune booster food because of its immune boosting properties. Its mucilage stimulates increase in production of the antibodies IgM and IgG. Dioscorin, the major tuber storage protein stimulates multiple signaling molecules and up-regulates the expression of cytokine genes involved in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. Mode of Consumption : Cooked stem tubers and root tubers

Plant Details/ Agro-climatic Zone/ Vernacular Name

Plant Details	Agro-climatic Zone	Vernacular Names	Pictures
Scientific Name: Dioscorea alata L. Family: Dioscoreaceae R.Br. Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Dioscoreales Genus: Dioscorea Plum. ex L. Fruiting Season: November to February Parts: Tuber, Leaves	The North-Eastern Hill 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	Assam : Kathalu, Kham Alu Karnataka : Mundi genasu, Tunagenaasu Kerala : Kaachil, Kaavuth Maharashtra : Coradu Odisha : Kambo alu	Tuber

Immunomodulatory Activity

Compound/Extract	Activity	Mode of Action	Marker/References
Mucilage	Immunoboosting	Its mucilage stimulated increase in production of serum specific anti-ovalbumin antibody of IgM and IgG.	IgA and IgG ^[1]
Dioscorin	Anti-inflammatory	Dioscorin stimulated multiple signaling molecules (NF-κB, ERK, JNK, and p38) and upregulated the expression of cytokine genes involved in proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and Anti-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-10) responses.	NF-κB, ERK, JNK, p38, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10^[2]
Boxthorn noodle	Immunoboosting	Yam–boxthorn noodle increased serum antibody levels, IgA and IgG in BALB/c mouse model.	IgA and IgG ^[3]
Aerial tuber extract	Anti-inflammatory	Aerial tuber extract up-regulates IL-4 and IL-10 levels, and down-regulates NO, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, PGE2 levels, and COX activities	IL-4, IL-10, NO, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, PGE2 levels, and COX^[6]
Diosgenin	Immunoboosting	Intake of Diosgenin enhanced the serum level of antigen-specific IgG2a and the production of IFN-γ by splenocytes.	IgG2a and IFN-γ^[8]

Metabolites

Major Class	Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
Steroid	Diosgenin: ^[8]

Prebiotic Activity

Effect	Observation	DOI

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library(TKDL)

Disease	Formulation	Reference	Author	TKDL

Information compiled from Wealth of India

Information from Wealth of India	Reference
The tuber is anthelmintic and useful in leprosy, piles and gonorrhoea.	CSIR(1952).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-III ,P.70-71, New Delhi, India

FSSAI Category

4.2, 04.2.1, 04.2.1.1, 04.2.1.3, 04.2.2.3, 04.2.2.5, 04.2.2.6, 04.2.2.8

Forbidden Combination

References

1 . DOI: 10.1007/s12595-013-0082-3 2 . DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.11.005 3 . DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2005.06.014 4 . DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2007.06.009 5 . DOI: 10.1016/j.fshw.2014.01.001 6 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.02.044 7 . DOI: 10.1021/jf8038499 8 . DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967169 9 . DOI: 10.1063/1.4953528 10 . DOI: 10.1080/09540105.2015.1048787 11 . DOI: 10.18502/kls.v2i1.125 12 . DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1104702

CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India