Dioscorea Research Articles

Phenanthrene and dihydrophenanthrene derivatives from Dioscorea communis with anticholinesterase, and antioxidant activities

Five phenanthrene and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives were isolated from the diethyl ether extract of fresh rhizomes of Dioscorea communis (L.), among them a phenanthrentriol 1 reported for the first time from Dioscoreaceae family and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives 6 and 7 reported also for the first time from Dioscorea species. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using UV, IR, 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS techniques. The anticholinesterase activity of extracts and four compounds was evaluated for the first time against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes using Ellman method. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of extracts and three compounds has been investigated using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS cation radical decolorization, CUPRAC, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays.

Consumer acceptance of eggs from Hy-Line Brown layers fed soybean or soybean-free diets using cage or free-range rearing systems

Consumers have begun to awaken to the food on their plates with respect to human health and the environment, as well as animal welfare. They have become more demanding about what they buy or prefer in their food, such as soy-free, gluten-free, or organic products. The objective of this study was to evaluate consumer acceptance of eggs from hens fed soybean meal or soybean-free diets utilizing cottonseed meal and distillers’ dried grains, using cage or free-range rearing systems. All eggs were stored at the sensory lab at Texas A&M University (TAMU) for a d prior to each test at 4°C. A panel of consumers (n = 60) made up of TAMU students, faculty, and staff, ages 18 to 50, were recruited to evaluate consumer acceptance based on 2 tests using scrambled and hard cooked eggs. Samples were placed in separate weigh boats labeled with 3-digit codes to avoid visual bias. Sensory ballots were based on overall like or dislike of flavor, texture, odor, and color using the 9-point hedonic scales. For scrambled eggs, flavor did not differ (P > 0.05), but texture liking was higher (P = 0.064) for scrambled eggs from the soybean-free diet (7.08) vs. scrambled eggs from the soybean meal diet (6.65). With respect to the hard cooked eggs, the consumer panel preferred the flavor of the eggs from the caged rearing system (7.11) vs. eggs from the free-range system (6.60; P = 0.014). Consumers liked the texture (P = 0.018) for eggs collected from hens fed soybean meal (6.91) vs. eggs from hens fed the soybean-free diet (6.30).

Clustering of dioscorea spp. From semarang district and boyolali-indonesia based on characterization starch type and tuber morphology

Dioscorea Spp. is a group of plants that having great potential to be developed, but its presence are increasingly marginalised. Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia have variants of Dioscorea Spp. that has not been characterized. The purpose of this research to clustering and know the similarity range of Dioscorea Spp. from Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia based on starch type and tuber morphology. Ten variants Dioscorea Spp. from Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia are characterized its starch and tuber, than arranged using cluster analysis with Past ver. 9.0 programs. The result of cluster analysis showed that 10 variants were found clustered into two main groups. First group consist of ‘gembili wulung’, ‘tomboreso’, ‘gembili brol’, ‘gembili tropong’ and ‘gembili pulung’, while second group are ‘uwi legi’, ‘uwi ungu’ and ‘uwi bangkulit’. Varieties from Semarang district and Boyolali have different morphological forms, but still have close kinship relationship.

Cluster analysis of dioscorea spp. Based on amilum and tuber morphology

Dioscorea Spp. is a group of plants that having great potential to be developed, but its presence are increasingly marginalised. Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia have variants of Dioscorea Spp. that has not been characterized. The purpose of this research to clustering and know the similarity range of Dioscorea Spp. from Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia based on starch type and tuber morphology. Ten variants of Dioscorea Spp. from Semarang district and Boyolali-Indonesia are characterized its starch and tuber, than arranged using cluster analysis with Past ver. 9.0 programs. The result of cluster analysis showed that 10 variants were found clustered into two main groups. First group consist of ‘gembili wulung’, ‘tomboreso’, ‘gembili brol’, ‘gembili tropong’ and ‘gembili pulung’, while second group are ‘uwi legi’, ‘uwi ungu’ and ‘uwi bangkulit’. Varieties from Semarang district and Boyolali have different morphological forms, but still have close kinship relationship.

Variation of photosynthetic characteristics and yield in wild and cultivated species of yams (Dioscorea spp.) from Koraput, India

Variations in leaf gas-exchange characteristics, PSII activity, leaf pigments, and tuber yield were investigated in seven wild and one cultivated species of Dioscorea from Koraput, India, in order to find out their overall adaptability to the environment. The leaf photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, carboxylation efficiency, and photosynthetic pigments were significantly higher in some wild species compared to the cultivated species. In addition, some wild species showed better photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching, and electron transport rate in comparison to cultivated one. Furthermore, leaf dry matter accumulation and tuber yield was also higher in some wild species compared to the cultivated species. Taken together, the wild species, such as D. oppositifolia, D. hamiltonii, and D. pubera, showed the superior photosynthetic efficiency compared to the cultivated D. alata and they could be used for future crop improvement programs.

Antioxidant activity, antibacterial potential and characterization of active fraction of Dioscorea pentaphylla L. tuber extract collected from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India

ABSTRACT Dioscorea pentaphylla L., a wild tuber is used both as food and medicines among different ethnic groups of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India. Tubers are used against skin infections. In order to establish and confirm tribal claims, methanol extract was subjected to fractionation. The active fraction (DP1) was subsequently used for further purification and NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance) characterization. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin groups. The antibacterial activity of DP1 was done against selected bacterial strains (Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans and Vibrio cholerae) using DD (disc diffusion), AWD (agar well diffusion) and broth dilution assay. The activity was compared with antibiotics Penicillin and Kanamycin. It was observed that DP1 showed significant inhibitory activity against the tested bacteria. The characterization of DP1 through NMR analysis and presence of proton in carbon position at C-3, C-19, C-18, C-21 and C-27 was same as the known compound “Diosgenin”. Therefore, isolated compound was confirmed to be Diosgenin. The study for the first time showed that, diosgenin present in D. pentaphylla tuber was responsible for antibacterial and antioxidant potential. Present study highlights the importance of Dioscorea species as sources of diverse secondary metabolites for the isolation of active compound(s).

Adapting US service learning projects to other cultures: dementia and memory care in the Dominican Republic

Abstract Background Caring for older populations with dementia is a global challenge. The cultural context in which ageing occurs is an important factor that influences treatment and daily care strategies for those with dementia, including location (home or health-care facility) and choice of caretakers (family members or health-care personnel). We adapted a successful US memory care service learning project for university students in the USA to pilot test in the Dominican Republic. Methods 18 health majors from Texas AM in this way, families can learn the memory care activities and conduct them on their own. Funding None.

Potency of Purple Yam (Dioscorea alata L) as an Immunomodulatory Agent

Abstract: Purple yam tuber (Dioscorea alata L.) is one of tubers that has not been used optimally. One of the nutrients contained in Dioscorea species is Saponin Steroid. This paper aims to examine the potential of Steroid Saponin in purple yam tuber (Dioscorea alata L.) as an immunomodulatory agent. The method is by reviewing from various literatures. This article found that Steroid Saponin in purple yam tuber (Dioscorea alata L.) had a potency as an immunomodulatory agent. Keywords: Purple yam tuber (Dioscorea alata L), Steroid Saponin, Immunomodulatory

Complete chloroplast genomes of <italic>Dioscorea opposite </italic>and <italic>D. collettii</italic> and screening specific DNA barcodes

Previous studies of DNA barcoding Dioscorea species have shown that the identification efficiency was low. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of D. opposite and D. collettii were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. Genome structure and content and high variation regions were analyzed. The complete chloroplast genome lengths of D. opposite and D. collettii were 152963 and 153870 bp, which include four parts: two inverted repeats (IRs), one large single copy (LSC) and one small single copy (SSC). Both of D. opposite and D. collettii encoded 125 genes, including 87 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. The GC contents of D. opposite and D. collettii were 37.04% and 37.17%, respectively. The result showed that the sequence variation of non-coding regions is higher than that of the protein coding region and the variations of the LSC and SSC are higher than that of the IRs. Ten molecular markers of Dioscorea , which include five protein coding regions and five non-coding regions were screened to be used as the potential DNA barcodes for authenticating Dioscorea species. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the chloroplast genome can be used as an ultra-barcode to distinguish Dioscorea species from each other. This study laid the foundation for super barcode utilization in the Dioscorea and provided a molecular basis for further investigation on this important medicinal species.

Nematodes of rodents of Armenia

This review summarizes known data on the species composition of nematodes in 24 species of rodents inhabiting the territory of Armenia (South of Lesser Caucasus). The studied rodents include members of some cosmopolitan species (Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus), as well as endemic and narrow-areal species (Meriones vinogradovi, Spermophilus xanthoprymnus, Microtus schidlovskii, Mesocricetus brandti, Sciurus anomalus). The taxonomical identity of the nematode species reported by previous authors is discussed with regard to present knowledge about helminth fauna of rodents. Our review concludes that 34 nematode species are present in rodents in Armenia, five of which are identified for the first time in rodents from the territory of Armenia, and three of which (Trichinella spiralis, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus skrjabini) are able to parasitize humans.

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF DIOSCOREA HISPIDA FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND LEUSER ECOSYSTEM AREA

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF DIOSCOREA HISPIDA FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND LEUSER ECOSYSTEM AREA

Karakterisasi Uwi-Uwian (Dioscorea spp) Dari Banjarnegara Berdasarkan Penanda Morfologi


 The diversity of Dioscorea spp. both inter-species and intra-species are spreaded in several areas in Central Java, including Banjarnegara. Dioscorea is a plant that has the potentials to be developed and cultivated. The purposes of this reasearch are to identify the species, characterize the morphological characters (stem, leaf, and tuber) of eight varians Dioscorea spp from Banjarnegara. The sample used in this reasearch are the eight varians of Dioscorea spp from Banjarnegara. The Identification was done by using a identification keys. Characterization of morphological characters was done by using the guidebook of Descriptor for Yam. The results showed that eight cultivars of Dioscorea spp are grouped into two types: Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea esculenta. Dioscorea alata has a stem which rotate the to the right, rectangular shaped of stem, it’s has wing and doesn’t have a spin, elongated heart-shaped leaves, oval-oblong and round shaped tuber. Dioscorea esculenta has a stem which rotate to the left, rounded shaped of stem, it has not wing but spiked, dilated heart-shaped leaf, and oval shape tuber. Keywords: Dioscorea spp, identifikasi, characteristic, morphology,

Proximate and Mineral Composition Variability in Ethiopian Yam (<i>Dioscorea</i> spp)

Fourty two yam (Dioscorea species) sprouted tubers were collected from six different major growing regions of Ethiopia and planted at Hawasa Agricultural Research Center. The Dioscorea species considered in this study were D. bulbifera, D. abyssinica, D. cayenensis, D. rotundata, D. praehensilis, and D. alata. Five Proximate compositions (moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein and crude fibre) and four minerals content (calcium, phosphorous, zinc and iron) were determined from 100g yam tubers at Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Insititute (EHNRI). High variability was observed among and within yam species due to their proximate composition and mineral content. The range of protein, moisture, iron, fat, fibre, ash, zinc, calcium and phosphorous content for all the fresh yam tubers observed in the study were between (3.13% - 6.29%),(4.67% -13.57%), (17.21mg/100g. - 90.85mg/100g), (0.26% - 7.86%), (1.82% - 6.36%), (1.68% - 4.41%), (0.38 mg/100g - 8.33 mg/100g), (6.3 mg/100g - 121.26 mg/100g) and (8.72 mg/100g. - 56.12 mg/100g) respectively. The correlation study indicated that presence of significance association between nutritional content to some yam agronomic traits.

Immunopotentiating Effect of Protein Extract from Dioscorea quinqueloba in Stressed Mice

Immunopotentiating Effect of Protein Extract from Dioscorea quinqueloba in Stressed Mice

Effect of starch extraction solutions on extraction and physicochemical property of Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) starch

Effect of starch extraction solutions on extraction and physicochemical property of Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) starch

Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Potential Roles of Underutilised Plant Species around Some Rural Homesteads in the Niger Delta

The food and nutrition status of the rural poor living in extreme deprivation are precarious in the event of catastrophic events occasioned by climate change. This study aimed at elaborating the potential roles of underutilised plant resources as sources of food in the face of climate change. A total of 37 plant species of different growth habits were sighted within the homesteads in the study communities. The commonest plant species around home provide food, medicine, cash, and cultural or spiritual purposes. These included Manihot esculenta (Cassava), Musa sapentium var. paradisiaca (Plantains) Musa sapentium (banana), Citrus sinensis (orange) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm). Outside the home compounds to a considerable walking distance around each of the communities, a total of twenty seven (27) plant species and four habitat types (three terrestrial and one aquatic) were encountered, with Elaeis guineensis Jacq. being present in all the terrestrial ecotypes (forest, farmland and fallow regrowth). Many of the plant species encountered within the home compounds are edible; some are medicinal or have spiritual values, while most have multiple uses. Magnifera indica, Dacryodes edulis, Persea americana, Carica papaya, Chrysophyllum albidum and Ananas comosus, are cherished for their tasty fruits. Vernonia amygdalina, Telferia occidentalis, Ocimum brasilicum, Amaranthus hybridus and Gnetum africana are eaten vegetables in soups. Irvingia gabonensis (Ogbono) is valued for its seeds, which are used widely in preparing the Ogbono soup, which is widely popular across Nigeria. The kola nut (Cola nitida), bitter kola (Garcina kola) trees and yams (Dioscorea spp) serve significant spiritual/cultural roles amongst the local populace in the study area—they are always presented at ceremonies such as marriages, funerals and festivals. Plant species with mostly untapped potentials to supply food and nutrients to the rural dwellers in the study area include breadfruit (Artocarpus cummunis), Avocado pear (Persia americana), Bush Mango (Irvingia gabonensis), Native pear (Dacryodes edulis), African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum), and Raphia palm (Raphia hookeri) and Tropical Almond (Terminalia catappa). These plants are reported to contain variable amounts of dietary nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, and fibre. Some of the plants have potentials to supply raw materials to sustain food and beverage industries.

First Report of Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1, Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2, and Hop stunt viroid Infecting Grapevines (Vitis spp.) in Nigeria

Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd-1), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd-2; genus Apscaviroid), and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd; genus Hostuviroid) are three of six viroid species documented globally from grapevines (Di Serio et al. 2017). These small plant-pathogenic, non-protein coding, circular RNAs may or may not elicit disease symptoms in grapevines depending on vagaries of the environment and their presence in mixed infection with other grapevine-infecting viruses. During 2016, surveys were conducted in the Northern Guinea Savannah agroecological zone of Nigeria to document the occurrence of grapevine viruses and viroids. A total of 318 leaf tissue samples belonging to five cultivars were collected during the survey across 28 vineyards. The samples were dried under CaCl₂ at room temperature, and then shipped under USDA-APHIS-PPQ permit to Texas AM MF576417–428) shared 96 to 100% identity with several HSVd GenBank isolates. The complete GYSVd-1 RNA derived in this study (365 to 367 nt; MF576399–407) shared 96 to 99% identity with several GYSVd-1 GenBank isolates. The complete GYSVd-2 RNA derived in this study (361 nt; MF576408–416) shared 97 to 99% identity with several GYSVD-2 GenBank isolates. No discernible symptoms were associated with the presence of all three viroid species in their source grapevines. To our knowledge, this is the first report of viroids infecting grapevine in Nigeria. Studies are ongoing to further elucidate the prevalence of all three viroids in Nigerian vineyards and their occurrences in mixed infections with other graft-transmissible agents of grapevine.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic significance of leaf venation characteristics in Dioscorea plants

We undertook a comparative study of the leaf venation characteristics of Dioscorea species from all seven sections distributed in China (33 species, 1 subspecies and 3 varieties). We established that leaf venation has a taxonomic significance in Dioscorea . The sections Combili, Opsophyton Lasiophyton and Shannicorea all show consistent acrodromous venation (a subtype of palmate venation), with Botryosicyos exhibiting consistent pinnate venation. However, sections Stenophora and Enantiophyllum show obvious intrasectional differences. For example, D. simulans and D. biformifolia of section Stenophora have acrodromously veined middle leaflets, whereas the side leaflets are pinnately veined; D. cirrhosa and D. cirrhosa var. cylindrica of section Enantiophyllum show dichotomous veinlets. Other species in the same section show either one-branched veinlets or multiple branched veinlets. In addition to the discrepancy in venation patterns, differences in many other important morphological characteristics and chemical components were also observed. Therefore, D. simulans and D. biformifolia can be reasonably excluded from section Stenophora, and section Illigerestrum can be rebuilt using these two species. In addition, D. cirrhosa and D. cirrhosa var. cylindrica should be removed from section Enantiophyllum and placed into another new section. D. simulans and D. biformifolia show pinnate venation, and the complexity of their leaf organization (with both simple and compound leaves) also points to variations between the pinnate and acrodromous veins in Dioscorea . The repeated presence of palmate and pinnate venation in multiple angiosperm clades also suggests that the formation and evolution of venation are likely the result of evolutionary adaptation to ecological environments. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS170322058S Received: March 22, 2017; Revised: August 24, 2017; Accepted: August 24, 2017; Published online: December 26, 2017 How to cite this article: Sun X, Xue J, Lei Z, Li M, Zhang Y, Zhou G, Hang Y. Taxonomic and phylogenetic significance of leaf venation characteristics in Dioscorea plants. Arch Biol Sci. 2018;70(2):397-407.

Ethnobotanical Uses and Survey of Dioscorea Species of North East India: Its Conservation and Sustainable Utilization

Dioscorea L. commonly known as yam is the large genus in the family Dioscoreaceae with 602 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is an important food crop next to cereals and grains due to high yield storage of carbohydrates which form an important place in the dietary habits of small and marginal farmers especially in the food security of tribal population. The tubers are also rich source of various secondary metabolites including Diosgenin, a commercially important bioactive sapogenin used as a precursor in the manufacturing of sex hormones, oral contraceptives and other pharmaceutically important steroidal drugs. Despite of its huge diversity only few species are recognised to be useful for medicinal and edible purposes. About 50 species of Dioscorea are distributed in India. The North East India, one of the hotspot of biodiversity is particularly rich in tropical root and tuber crops. Dioscorea species are in luxuriant growth in wild habitat in this region. The present study mainly addressed to explore the ethnomedicinal uses of Dioscorea in North East India and also focused on safe conservation and sustainable uses of various wild relatives of Dioscorea species present in this region.

Phylogenetic analysis of Indian Dioscorea and comparison of secondary metabolite content with sampling across the tree

Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae) is a large monocot genus of species with either underground tubers or rhizomes. Many species of Dioscorea are used for food or medicine. Dioscorea is as an emerging model organism that is important in understanding plant biology and evolution. Dioscorea is rich in secondary metabolite content (e.g., diosgenin). The first objective of this study was phylogenetic analysis of Indian Dioscorea. Sampling included 16 Indian species representing approximately 50% of total Indian species. In molecular phylogenetic analyses, using plastid markers (matK, rbcL, atpB-rbcL and ndhF), the tuberous and rhizomatous species formed separate clades with strong support and members of each section formed distinct clade supporting the traditional morphology based sectional classification of Dioscorea. Results of phylogenetic analyses of Indian Dioscorea formed the basis for sampling of species for the second objective of this study, which was to compare the secondary metabolite (phenolics and flavonoid) content in representatives from different sections of Indian Dioscorea. The phenolic content and associated antioxidant activity were studied using methanolic extracts of underground parts. Six species from different sections were used in this study, which are Dioscorea alata L. (six cultivars; Enantiophyllum), D. pentaphylla L. (sect. Botryosicyos), D. esculenta (Lour.) Burkill (sect. Combilium), D. bulbifera L. (sect. Opsophyton), D. deltoidea Wall. ex Griseb. and D. prazeri Prain et Burkill (sect. Stenophora). The rhizomatous species D. prazeri and D. deltoidea showed higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than the tuberous species. Significant differences were also observed in the phenolic content and antioxidant activities among different cultivars of D. alata.