Dioscorea villosa is a species of twining tuberous vine which is native to eastern
North America. It is commonly known as wild yam, colic root, rheumatism root, devil's bones, and fourleaf yam.[2] It is common and widespread in a range stretching from
Texas and
Florida north to
Minnesota,
Ontario and
Massachusetts.[1][3][4][5][6]
Description
Dioscorea villosa flower petal color is commonly known to be green to brown, or white. Lengths of the flower petals range from 0.5 to 2 mm (1⁄32 to 3⁄32 in). The flowers tend to grow out of the axil; this is the point at which a branch or leaf attaches to the main stem. There is only one flower present on the inflorescence.[verification needed] The fruit of the plant is a capsule that splits and releases the seeds within to then begin the dispersal process[7] The fruit of Dioscorea villosa ranges in size from 10–30 mm (3⁄8–1+3⁄16 in).[8] The flower does not produce aerial bulblets.
Taxonomy
Synonyms of Dioscorea villosa include Dioscorea hirticaulis and Dioscorea villosa var. hirticaulis. Common names of Dioscorea villosa include wild yam, Atlantic yam, common wild yam, wild yam-root, yellow yam, colic root, and rheumatism root.[9][10][11]
Chemistry
Dioscorea villosa contains
diosgenin, which despite claims is not a phytoestrogen and does not interact with estrogen receptors.[12] Other steroidal
saponins are also found in the plant.[citation needed]
There is little modern clinical research on Dioscorea villosa, and the one study of a wild yam-containing cream for menopausal symptoms failed to find any value from this therapy.[16] According to the
American Cancer Society, there is no evidence to support wild yam or diosgenin being either safe or effective in humans.[17]
^Govaerts, R., Wilkin, P. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2007). World Checklist of Dioscoreales. Yams and their allies: 1-65. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
^Medigović I, Ristić N, Živanović J, Šošić-Jurjević B, Filipović B, Milošević V, Nestorović N (2014). "Diosgenin does not express estrogenic activity: A uterotrophic assay". Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 92 (4): 292–8.
doi:
10.1139/cjpp-2013-0419.
PMID24708211..
Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.