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Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill

Summary
It is commonly known as Bana Alu and belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family which is grown for edible tubers. Allantoin, Choline, Stigmasterol, Dioscin, Diosgenin, β-sitosterol, Ascorbic acid are some of the bioactive compounds present in it. Among them, Allantoin speeds up the wound healing processes. Diosgenin also has functional immunoboosting capacity.

Mode of Consumption : Cooked stem tubers and root tubers
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill
Family: Dioscoreaceae R.Br.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Dioscoreales
Genus: Dioscorea Plum. ex L.
Fruiting Season: June-September
Parts: Tuber
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Silakadom, Tivvitiga, Tippa tigga
Arunachal Pradesh : Kaan
Assam : Moa Alu
Bihar : Ban Alu
Kerala : Cherukizhangu, Cheruvallikizhangu, Nanakizhangu, Mullu Kilangu, Cheru Kilangu
Maharashtra : Kate-Kanagi
Tamil Nadu : Musilam valli kilangu, Siruvalli Kilangu, Kodikkilangu
West Bengal : Mou Alu, Sushni Alu, Susni Alu

Tuber
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
AllantoinWound healingAllantoin speeds up the wound healing processes.[2]
DiosgeninAntidiabeticDiosgenin treatment enhanced the serum and muscle DHEA and DHT level in type 1 diabetic rats. [3]
Methanolic extractAntioxidantMethanolic extract exhibited as a good antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. [4]
Dioscorea tabletImmunoboostingDioscorea tablet intake combined with resistance training increased muscle hypertropy and strength in athletes by restoring secretion of androgen hormones. [5]
Methanolic extractAnti-inflammatoryMethanolic extract inhibited Carrageenan-induced oedema in Wistar rats in a dose-dependent manner with a good initial effect in 1 h and 2 h at doses of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg, respectively. [6]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
AlkaloidDioscorin: [2]
AmineCholine: [2]
PhytosterolStigmasterol: , β-sitosterol: [6]
SteroidDioscin: , Diosgenin: 533.33 mg/100 g[3]
VitaminAscorbic acid: 84.06 ± 0.24 mg/100g[7]
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • The grated tubers are reported to be used as an application for swellings.
 CSIR(1952).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-III ,P.72-73, New Delhi, India
4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.1.3, 4.2.2, 4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3, 4.2.2.4, 4.2.2.6, 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