Wild Yam.Dioscorea villosa and Phytochemicals.

Dioscorea Use in Chinese Medicine.

Wild Yam Extract INCI Name Dioscorea Villosa Extract DIOSCOREA VILLOSA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No.290-441-7 CAS:90147-49-2 Dioscin.19057-60-4.Diosgenin.512-04-9.photo picture image There are several herbs derived from species of Dioscorea used in Chinese herb formulas, though only two are used with some frequency. By far the most common is Dioscorea opposita (= Dioscorea batatas), for which the rhizome (tuber) is used; it is called shanyao (mountain herb). This is in the yam family, and the herb is sometimes simply referred to as "Chinese yam."

Shanyao is used extensively in formulas for tonifying the kidney, often combined with rehmannia and cornus for that purpose. Like rehmannia, dioscorea nourishes yin; like cornus, it is an essence astringent. Well-known formulas with this trio of herbs include

Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Six Formula) and its derivatives, which are too numerous to mention here
Yougui Wan and Yougui Yin (the yang tonifying pill and liquid)
Zuogui Wan and Zuogui Yin (the yin nourishing pill and liquid)

Shanyao is also used in spleen qi tonics, such as Shen Ling Baizhu San and Guzhen Tang, where it is a relatively minor constituent, taking second place to the more potent atractylodes. In the modern Chinese Materia Medica, dioscorea is listed with the qi tonic herbs because of its traditional use for alleviating diarrhea, despite the fact that it is much more frequently used in kidney-nourishing formulas, where it contributes to stabilizing the kidney and restraining "essence leakage."

Yang Yifan notes that:

Shanyao is neutral and sweet. Although its effect in tonifying the spleen qi is not so strong as that of atractylodes [baizhu], it can tonify either the qi or the yin, so it is especially suitable for treating deficiency of both qi and yin in the middle burner. It also has a slightly astringent property which is helpful for stopping diarrhea. Furthermore, this herb also enters the lung and kidney meridians, so it effective for tonifying and stabilizing the qi and yin of these organs. It can be used for patients suffering from a lack of appetite, fatigue, loose stools, and shortness of breath, thirst, and sweating.

The tuber, like that of the edible yams, is comprised mainly of nutrients stored for plant growth, so it is rich in starch and also contains protein. One of the main proteins, called dioscorin, is being investigated for potential health benefits, including antioxidant activity. A mucilage (starch-protein complex) from the tuber is also considered of potential value. The mucilage of this plant, like that of other plants, may contribute to its treatment of diarrhea, as this substance has binding and anti-irritant action. However, the main active components of dioscorea are steroidal compounds, diosgenin and its variants. These make up about 2% of the tubers. The pharmacology of diosgenin and the other steroidal compounds from dioscorea have not been investigated to a great extent (a small amount of investigation was done over 20 years ago); however, the effects may overlap those of many similar compounds found in herbal medicines, especially Chinese herbs (see: Platycodon and other Chinese herbs with triterpene glycosides). Diosgenin is used as a raw material for pharmaceutical production of steroidal hormones; however, the hormonal activity of the natural compounds is quite weak. Diosgenin, a spirostanol glycoside, is being investigated as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (3), though in amounts much larger than would be obtained from shanyao in traditional preparations.
Wild Yam Extract INCI Name Dioscorea Villosa Extract DIOSCOREA VILLOSA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No.290-441-7 CAS:90147-49-2 Dioscin.19057-60-4.Diosgenin.512-04-9.photo picture image

Dioscorea hypoglauca: Bixie

The other commonly used variety of Dioscorea is commonly called tokoro, the Chinese name is bixie (the characters for this name are unique for the plant). It is from the rhizome of Dioscorea hypoglauca or plants with similar tubers, such D. tokoro and D. septemloba. Its composition is similar to that of shanyao, but it is a more bitter taste, possibly due to higher level of the steroidal compounds. Yang Yifan also describes it:

Bixie is bitter and neutral and enters the liver, stomach, and bladder meridians. It does not have the function of clearing heat, but it is able to separate dampness from heat and separate the clean part of water from the turbid part and it is good at eliminating dampness. Bixie is particularly used for treating cloudy urine or a large amount of leukorrhea due to dampness accumulation in the lower burner. In clinical practice, this herb is often used for chronic nephritis.

The description of bixie may give some insights into the use of shanyao. Both herbs aid in the treatment of moisture disorders, and the idea of being able to "separate dampness from heat" and the "clean part from the turbid part" may help us understand their properties and functions. Damp and heat are two pathological influences that can combine together, producing a "damp-heat" syndrome. Dampness helps the heat to stagnate and to sink downward; damp-heat syndromes especially affect the lower abdomen (and sometimes the legs). Heat causes dampness, which is often associated with swelling and/or discharge, to produce symptoms of itching, burning, and redness; the discharge may become discolored rather than clear or white. So, examples of damp-heat syndromes include infections of the kidney, bladder, large intestine, and reproductive organs. Clarity (as in the "clean part") is a concept that is applied to fluid essences, including moisture, phlegm, and qi (there is a description of "clear yang" rising to the head, an essence that aids mental processes, and this refers to the yang aspect of qi). Contaminating substances combining with the fluid essence produces the condition of "turbidity." When severe, turbidity often involves blockage of the free flow of the essences. In the description above, the turbidity is made evident in the cloudy urine or the large amount of milky fluid (leukorrhea), and this is associated here with accumulation of damp in the lower burner; the accumulation is related to blockage of the free flow of moisture. Although not mentioned in the description here by Yang, bixie is also used in the treatment of wind-damp syndrome, especially for rheumatoid arthritis. The obstruction in the joints is partly due to stagnation and turbidity of fluids in the joint space.

One of the well-known formulations with tokoro is the Tokoro Combination (Bixie Fenqing Yin), which is comprised of equal parts tokoro, alpinia, acorus, and lindera (4). This formula is aimed at warming up the kidney (the three other herbs are all warming), clearing away turbidity, and removing dampness. The syndrome it treats is one of deficiency of the kidney with invasion of coldness, causing symptoms of frequent urination with discharge of mucus in the urine (this is the evidence of turbidity). Lindera (wuyao) is categorized as a qi regulating herb, but is a close relative of cinnamon, which has the effect of warming the kidney. Acorus (shichangpu) is often used for clearing the phlegm-mist type of turbidity that affects mental function, but is also used for turbidity elsewhere. Alpinia is a warming kidney tonic that also tonifies the spleen and disperses damp accumulation. A formulation similar to this one, but with shanyao in place of bixie, is called Suoquan Wan, and is used for treatment of frequent urination or urinary incontinence.
Wild Yam Extract INCI Name Dioscorea Villosa Extract DIOSCOREA VILLOSA EXTRACT EINECS ELINCS No.290-441-7 CAS:90147-49-2 Dioscin.19057-60-4.Diosgenin.512-04-9.photo picture image

Although the two herbs, shanyao and bixie, are listed in differing parts of the Materia Medica and described differently (the former emphasizing tonic effects, the latter emphasizing "separating effects") it is likely that these two actually have overlapping effects. Both are suitable for treating kidney deficiency syndromes and both regulate fluid metabolism.

The other Chinese herbs relying on species of Dioscorea are used far less often. Two main examples are:

Huangyaozi: obtained from Dioscorea bulbifera, it is used to resolve phlegm, and is especially employed in treatments for phlegm-mass of the throat area, namely thyroid swelling (see: Treatments of thyroid diseases with Chinese herbal medicine) and esophageal cancer (5). It is considered an effective herb for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, but must be used cautiously as there have been reports of liver damage due to use of this herb. Huangyaozi is also used to treat eczema and other skin diseases (abscesses, sores, etc.) and bronchitis.

Chuanshanlong: obtained from Dioscorea nipponica; it is used to vitalize blood and relax tendons, promote fluid metabolism, and disperse phlegm. It is mainly used in cases of arthralgia affecting the lower back and legs. It has relatively large amounts of diosgenin and related saponins and is used in high doses (15-30 grams). The anti-arthritis effects are probably the same as those mentioned previously for diosgenin..

These other two species have in common the treatment of phlegm accumulation and wind-damp syndromes (arthritis and skin inflammation) which represent manifestations of turbidity and moisture accumulation, conditions generally treated by Dioscorea species. It should be noted that Dioscorea hypoglauca is being investigated for anticancer activity (6), especially of the component protodioscin (which is also found in the Chinese herb tribulus). It may also be useful in resolving phlegm-masses, such as occurs with neurofibromatosis.

Reference:

1.Wild Yam.Dioscorea villosa and Phytochemicals.

last edit date:1st,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Wild Yam Extract
Serie No:S-030.
Specifications:Dioscin 6%12%20%HPLC
INCI Name:DIOSCOREA VILLOSA EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:290-441-7
CAS:90147-49-2,Dioscin 19057-60-4,Diosgenin 512-04-9.
Chem/IUPAC Name:Dioscorea Villosa Extract is an extract of the rhizomes of the wild yam,Dioscorea villosa,Dioscoreaceae

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