Yams Dioscorea spp

People around the world enjoy Africa s culinary contributions. These include the peanut Arachis hypogaea, Fabaceae), yam (Dioscorea spp., Dioscoreaceae), watermelon Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbitaceae), okra Abelmoschus esculentus, Malvaceae) and many other foods and flavors. In North America and in many other parts of the world there is little recognition of the many contributions that Africa has made to modem culture, i.e., perhaps beyond the domain of etlmobotanists and pharmacognosists. 

Yamogenin and yamogenin isomer diosgenin, (25J )-spirost-5-en-3P-ol (10-64) are the aglycones of saponins in yams Dioscorea spp., Dioscoraceae) whose starchy tubers are eaten in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region (D. alata and D. escuknta in Southeast Asia, D. trifida in South America, D. rotundata and D. cayenensis in West Africa). Yams typically contain 4-8% saponins, which are also a source of steroids for the pharmaceutical industry. 

Ex precursor Protogracillin in Dioscorea spp. (Mexican yam) (Dioscoreaceae) [anti-rheumatic, anti-arthritic plant], Costus speciosus (Zingiberaceae)... 

---