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Family Dioscoreaceae

Tugi
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill
LESSER YAM
Gan shu

Scientific names Common names
Dioscorea aculeata Roxb. Aneg (Ibn.)
Dioscorea aculeata var. spinosa (Prain) Roxb. Apali (C.Bis)
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill Boga (Ilk.)
Dioscorea esculenta var. fasciculata (Roxb.) Prain & Burkhill Dukai (Iv.)
Dioscorea esculenta var. fulvidotomentosa R.Knuth Kamiging (Bik.)
Dioscorea esculenta var. spinosa (Prain) R.Knuth Luttu (Ibn.)
Dioscorea esculenta var. tiliifolia (Kunth) Fosberg & Sachet Toñgo (Tag.)
Dioscorea fasciculata Roxb. Tugi (Tag., Ilk.)
Dioscorea fasciculata var. spinosa Prain Tuñgo (Tag.)
Discorea papillaris Blanco Asiatic yam (Engl.)
Dioscorea papuana Warb. Chinese yam (Engl.)
Dioscorea spinosa Roxb. ex Hook.f. Lesser yam (Engl.)
Discorea tiliifolia Kunth  
Discorea tugui Blanco  
Oncorhiza esculentus (Lour.) Pers.  
Oncus esculentus Lour.  
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online

Other vernacular names
ASSAMESE: Moa alu, Ruipheng silu.
CHINESE: Ci shu yu, You ci gan shu, Tian shu.
FRENCH: Igname De Chine épineuse, Igname Des Blancs.
GERMAN: Chinesischer yam.
GOA: Kaate kanaga.
MALAYALAM: Nana kishangu, Nheruvalli kishangu, Cheru kishangu.
PORTUGUESE: Inhame, Inhame-De-São.
SPANISH: Batata de China.
TAMIL: Siruvalli kilangu.
TELUGU: Tippa Tiga.
VIETNAMESE: Khoai tu, Cu tur.

Gen info
- Dioscoreaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants, with about 715 known species in nine genera, the best known of which is the yam (some species of Dioscorea). (14)
- Dioscoreaceae were first described by Brown in 1810.
- As of September 2022, Plants of the World Online accepted four genera in the family: Dioscorea, Stenomeris, Tacca, Trichopus. (14)

Botany
Tugi is a slender, slightly hairy, spiny vine, reaching a height of several meters. Tubers are 15 to 20 centimeters long, except in the case of some cultivated forms. Leaves are simple, suborbicular to reniform, 6 to 12 centimeters long, apiculate, the base 11- to 15-nerved, prominently heart-shaped, with rounded lobes. Spikes are slender, axillary, pubescent, up to 50 centimeters long. Flowers are green, about 4 millimeters in diameter.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes in Bataan Islands, in Cagayan, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan in Luzon, and in Semirara.
- Also cultivated, but not as extensively as ubi (Dioscorea alata).
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Camobodia, Himalaya, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam.

Constituents
- Contains 83% starch, 12% protein.
- Tubers are a good source of vitamin B.
- Phytochemical screening of defatted methanol extract of tuber yielded saponins, diosgenin, ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, cardiac glycosides, fat and starch.
- Edible yams have yield polyphenolic substances such as catechins, epicatechins, chlorogenic acids, leucoanthocyanidins and anthocyanins.
- Study of chemical composition of flours and starches (% dry weight basis) yielded total starch 74.66±0.66, protein 9.02±0.65, crude fat 1.5±0.2, crude fiber 2.33±0.15, ash 2.1±0.2. Phytochemical composition yielded
saponins 20.01±0.26, flavonoids 12.4±0.46, alkaloids 1.89±0.02. Mineral content analysis yielded calcium 8.29±0.06, iron 6.12±0.03, magnesium 33.6±1.19, potassium 190.91±0.78, zinc 1.19±0.08. (11)
- Nutritional content of tuber flour is protein (7.19%), fat (1.10%), dietary fiber (10.16%), inulin (7.49%) and total starch content (71.78%).

Properties
- Traditionally uses suggest anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-spasmodic properties.
- Studies have suggest antioxidant, antifertility, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties.

Part utilized
Roots.

Uses
Edibility / Nutritional
- Tubers are boiled and eaten; cooked like potatoes.
- Rich in carbohydrates, a good source of vitamin B, with a nutritional value similar to ubi.
- Sweet and pleasant tasting, with a flavor of sweet potato or chestnut.
Folkloric
- The raw tubers are applied to swellings.
- In Indo-China, decoction of the tubers used for rheumatism and as diuretic.
- In China, used for beriberi.

- In Tripura, India, poultice of tubers applied to swellings.
- Tuber paste applied to ulcers, boils, abscesses.
- Used in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and other genital organ disorders.

Studies
Anti-inflammatory / Phytochemicals: Study evaluated a defatted methanol extract of D esculenta for anti-inflammatory properties in an animal model using Wistar rats. Study used cotton thread method in measuring hind paw edema and granuloma tissue formation in rats. Results showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced edema and supports its folkloric use in inflammation. Phytochemical screening yielded saponins, diosgenin, ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, cardiac glycosides, fat and starch. (1)
Antioxidant:
Study screening the phenolic content of different varieties of root crops in the Philippines, including D esculenta, found the roots crops a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity.
Storage Effect:
Study of 1 to 7 weeks of storage revealed the moisture content, dray weight and starch levels decreased gradually with a concomitant increase in sugar content under different stages of dormancy. (
3)
Antioxidant / Phenolic Content:
Study of a methanolic extract showed a total phenolic content of 0.7 g/110g. Results confirmed potential in vitro antioxidant activity, which was attributed to phenols and flavonoids. (
6)
Inulin:
Study showed the production of inulin powder from lesser yam through the foam mat drying method using maltodextrin and egg white as filler and foaming agent. Inulin is a natural nondigestible fructooligosaccharide that occurs as reserve carbohydrate in several plants. Higher amounts of inulin could be extracted from D. esculenta compared to other tubers. (
7)
Antifertility Activity:
Study investigated the antifertility effect of an ethanol extract in male albino rats. Results showed antifertility effects by inhibition of sperm concentration, motility, and testosterone. (8)
Antibacterial / Mucilage:
Study investigated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of tuber mucilage extracted from D. esculenta against five human pathogenic bacterial strains. The extracts showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus, with no activity against K pneumonia and S. pyogenes. (10)
Starch and Sugar Conversion During Storage:
Study showed moisture content, dry weight, and starch levels decreased gradually with a concomitant increase in sugar content under different stages of dormancy. (12)
Inulin Extract from Gembili Tubers as Prebiotic:
Prebiotic is added to food to support the growth of probiotics. Inulin is a carbohydrate that serves as an effective prebiotic that cannot be digested by digestive enzymes. Study tested gembili tubers as a source of prebiotic in probiotic bacteria L. casei. Best treatment results were obtained with isolates of L. casei obtained in fermentation medium with the addition of inulin from gembili tubers. (13)

Availability
Wild-crafted. 

Updated April 2023 / October 2019 / December 2015

PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
Photo © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
IMAGE SOURCE: Dioscorea esculenta / File:Dioscorea esculenta 002.JPG / H. Zell / 27 September 2009 / GNU Free Documentaion License / Wikimedia Commons

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Anti-inflammatory studies of yam (Dioscorea esculenta) extract on wistar rats / J O Olayemi and E O Ajaiyeoba / African Journal of Biotechnology, 20 Aug 2007; 6 (16): pp 1913-1915 /
(2)
Local Root Crops as Antioxidants / Innovations Report
(3)
Starch and sugar conversion in Dioscorea esculenta tubers and Curcuma longa rhizomes during storage / R Panneerselvam and C Abdul Jaleel / Caspian J. Env. Sci. 2008, Vol. 6 No. 2 pp. 151~160
(4)
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill (accepted name) / Chinese names / Catalogue of Life, China
(5)
Dioscorea esculenta (Chinese Yam) / Common names / Zipcodezoo
(6)
In vitro antioxidant studies of Dioscorea esculenta (Lour). Burkill
/ Manickam Murugan, Veerabahu Ramasamy Mohan* / Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (2012)S1620-S1624
(7)
Preparation of Inulin Powder from Dioscorea Esculenta Tuber with Foam Mat Drying Method / Eni Harmayani, Sri Winarti, Rudi Nurismanto / 121th Asean Food Conference 2011.
(8)
Antifertility acitivity of ethanol extract of Dioscorea esculenta (L.) Schott on male albino rats. / P.S. Shajeela, V.R.Mohan, L. Louis Jesudas and P.Tresina Soris / International Journal of PharmTech Research, April-June 2011; 3(2): pp 946-954 / ISSN: 0974-4304
(9)
Dioscorea esculenta / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(10)
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of the Mucilage of Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill
/ A. Thajunnisha Begum, S. Anbazhakan / International Journal of Modern Biology and Medicine, 2013, 4(3): pp 140-146 / ISSN: 2165-0136
(11)
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN FOUR CULTIVARS OF YAMS AND TUBER CROPS IN SRI LANKA / Senanayake SA*, Ranaweera KKDS, Bamunuarachchi A and Gunaratne A / Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 15(1): 2012
(12)
Starch and sugar conversion in Dioscorea esculenta tubers and Curcuma longa rhizomes during storage
/ R. Panneerselvam*, C. Abdul Jaleel / Caspian J. Env. Sci. 2008, Vol. 6 No. 2 pp. 151~160
(13)
Comparative Study of Inulin Extracts from Dahlia, Yam, and Gembili Tubers as Prebiotic
/ Elok Zubaidah, Wilda Akhadiana / Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2013, 4, 8-12 Published Online November 2013 / http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/fns.2013.411A002
(14)
Dioscoreaceae / Wikipedia
(15)
Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill: Uses and bioactivity / Marina Silalahi / International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2022; 3(2): pp 20-25 / ISSN: 0799-6616 /
DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2022.3.2.003

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

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