DIOSCOREA

DIOSCOREA

Synonyms
Yam, Rheumatism root.

Biological Source

It consists of dried tubers of the plants, Dioscoreadeltoidea, D. Composita, and other species of Corea, family Dioscoreaceae.

Geographical Source
D. deltoidea is found growing in North Western Himalayas from Kashmir and Punjab to Nepal China upto an altitude of 1000 to 3000 m. It is cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir and in part of mechal Pradesh. D. deltoidea is also found in U.S.A. and Mexico.


Cultivation and Collection
In view of the pharmaceutical significance of the drug, it is tried and successfully grown in various parts of India. Commercially, it is grown in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra,Karnataka, and Jammu and Kashmir.

The crop can be raised from seeds, but variability in progeny and comparatively longer time for harvesting are the disadvantages with this method. Therefore, healthy tubers of about 70 - 80 g in weight with Crown are selected for cultivation. For checking the tuber-rot, they are treated with fungicide and sown in nursery beds. It takes about 30 to 40 days for their sprouting.
After 2 to 3 months of growth, tubers are transplanted in the field, which is treated with the insecticide earlier. While planting, the tubers are placed at a distance of 30 x 60 cm. Initially, the veins are weak and tender and they need support for their optimum growth. Trellises of 2.5 m in height are provided for this purpose. Since the tubers are very exhaustive, a high dose of farmyard re to the extent of 5 - 10 tones per hectare is applied in the beginning. Organic fertilizers should be applied subsequently in equal doses at an interval of one month. Irrigation should be done every 10 days .
No major pests are reported in case of Dioscorea. However, preventive measures should be taken against white-bugs and mites. Inter-cropping with legumes can be done. Fresh tuber-yield ashigh as 18 tones per hectare, can be expected from two year Crop. Harvesting is done by ploughing in the dormant season, as during this period, the diosgenin Content is found to be compared to other seasons. Rhizomes lose about 50 per cent of their weight on drying.




Uses
Pharmaceutically, the rhizomes are used as rich source of diosgenin. Diosgenin being steroidal in nature is used as precursor for synthesis of several Corticosteroids, sex-hormones, and oral The term Pa contraceptives. Dioscorea is used in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis.



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