The document discusses the historical and pharmaceutical significance of Dioscorea villosa, commonly known as colic root, first used by a botanist during the Battle of Trenton in 1776. It details its cultivation, which involves careful selection of healthy tubers, treatment for tuber-rot, and support for growth, as well as its chemical composition including diosgenin, which is a precursor for various corticosteroids and hormones. The document highlights its medicinal uses, particularly in treating rheumatic arthritis, and precautions regarding its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

1. HarshKumar Baranwal

2. At the battle of Trenton in December ,
1776 , General Washington captured a
large number of Hessian prisoners.
Among them was a botanic in New
Jersey , a few miles above the city of
New York. To him belongs the credit of
first using Dioscorea Villosa as a
medicine . He appears to have used it
for a long time as a secret remedy for
Bilious colic and from his success in the
administration of the medicine in this
disease , he names it colic root.

3. Synonyms :-
Yam , Rheumatism root
English Name :– Nepal Yam
Hindi Name :– Shingli Mingli
Biological Source :-
It consists of dried tubers of the plant ,
Dioscorea deltoidea , D. composita , and other species of
Dioscorea.
Family :- Dioscareaceae

4.  Dioscorea Deltoidea is found growing in North Western
Himalayas from Kashmir and Punjab to Nepal and China
upto an altitude of 1000 to 3000 m.
 In view of the pharmaceutical significance of the drug , it
is tried and successfully grown in various parts of India .
 Commercially , it is grown in Tamil Nadu , West Bengal ,
Maharashtra , Karnataka , and Jammu & kashmir.

6.  The crop can be raised from
seeds , but variability in progeny
and comparatively longer time for
harvesting .
 Therefore , healthy tubers of
about 70 – 80 g in weight with
crown are selected for cultivation .
For checking the tuber-rot , they
are treated with fungicide and
sown in nursery beds .
It takes about 30 to 40 days for
their sprouting .

7.  After 2 to 3 months of growth , tubers are transplanted in the
field , which is treated with the insecticide earlier .
While planting , the tubers are placed at a distance of 30×60
cm .
 Initially , the veins are weak and tender and they need
support for their growth . Trellises of 2.5 m in height are
provided for this purpose .
 Organic fertilizers should be applied subsequently in equal
doses at an interval of one month.
Irrigation should be done every 10 days.

8. Colour - Slightly brown
Odour - Odourless
Taste - Bitter
Size - Varies depending
upon age of rhizomes .

9.  It is climber with alternate
leaves .
 Rhizomes are soft , horizonatlly
arranged and are very close to the
soil.
 Drug is covered with scattered
roots.
 The weigh about 20 – 50 g.

10.  Dioscorea rhizome contains 75
percent of Starch.
 They are non-edible, since they
are very bitter in taste.
 The chief active constiuent of
dioscorea is diosgenin, steroidal
sapogenin (4 to 6 per cent), and
its glycosides, smilagenin and
epismilagenin and β- is0mer
yammogenin .

11.  Rhizomes are also found to contain an enzyme
sap0genase .
 Tubers are also rich in glycosides and phenolic compounds.
 Diosgenin is the hydrolytic product of saponin – dioscin.

12.  Pharmaceutically , the
rhizomes are used as rich source &
chief constituent of diosgenin .
Diosgenin being steroidal in
nature is used as precursor
for synthesis of several
corticosteroids ,hormones and
oral contraceptives.
Dioscorea is used in the
treatment of rheumatic arthritis

13. 1) Foam Test :-
Place 2 ml solution of drug in water in a
test tube.
Shake well , foam is produced.
2) Haemolytic Test

14. Avoid use during pregnancy and
breast feeding .

15. Generate much interest
due to their relationship
with compounds such as
sex hormones , cortisone ,
diuretic steroids ,Vitamin
D ,and the cardiac
glycosides.