Biochemical, Organoleptic and Antimicrobial Assessment of Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)

Abstract

Elephant foot yam or Amorphophallus paeoniifolius is a tuber having extensive curative and digestive properties which belongs to the family Araceae, cultivated in western and southern states of India. Scientific evidence has suggested that elephant foot yam has high amount of dietary fiber, starch, carbohydrate, protein, and minute amounts of sugars. It also has significant amount of calcium and adequate amounts of sodium, potassium and vitamin C. The study of elephant foot yam becomes very significant as it has several medicinal benefits and is widely used in Indian medicine including Ayurveda. It has been found to contain anti- diabetic, analgesic, anti-bacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic properties , besides it has also found to have anticancerous properties. The corm is prescribed in bronchitis, asthma, abdominal pain, dysentery, splenomegaly, piles, elephantiasis, rheumatic swellings. To further elucidate the literature of elephant foot yam the study was carried out. The proximate analysis of Elephant foot yam sample collected from Kerala was performed . The results aided to obtain a biochemical profile of the tuber. An edible product of yam was developed and the data obtained following sensory evaluation was analyzed statistically to determine its acceptability among the population. Antimicrobial assessment of the sample was also carried out.