Phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of Dioscorea species in Korea, China and Japan

한국, 중국, 일본에서 자생하는 '마' 속 식물의 화학 성분과 활성

  • Yang, Min-Hye (College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Yoon, Kee-Dong (College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Chin, Young-Won (College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Woong (College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University)
  • Published : 2009.12.31

Abstract

Plants of genus Dioscorea have long been served as important carbohydrate-stuffed foods in the tropical and subtropical regions, and utilized as traditional herb medicines to enhance digestive function, improve anorexia, and treat diarrhea in oriental countries. It is known that around 600 species of Dioscorea are distributed in the world including 107 species in Asia, but actually utilized Dioscorea species are restricted to small numbers. Phytochemical investigations for Dioscorea species have revealed a number of chemical components such as sapogenins, saponins, phenanthrenes, stilbenes, diterpenes and purine derivatives. According to recent pharmacological studies, Dioscorea species possess significant antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities as well as anticancer, antidiabetic, cholesterol-lowering and hypolipidemic effects. Here, seven Dioscorea species (D. batatas, D. japonica, D. bulbifera, D. opposita, D. tokoro, D. nipponica and D. alata), mainly distributed and used in Korea, China, and Japan, are reviewed to provide their botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological properties were described.

Keywords

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