In vitro Diosgenin Augmentation in Microtubers of Dioscorea floribunda (M. Martens & Galeotti)

Abstract

Medicinal yam Dioscorea floribunda is known to possess pharmacologically active diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, usually found in greater quantities in the tubers. It is used for the commercial synthesis of cortisone, pregnenolone, progesterone, and other steroid products. Diosgenin is also implicated in reduction of serum cholesterol, estrogenic activity and anticancer effects.In the present study, multiple shoots were initiated from nodal explants and microtuberization, from budding nodal segments of D. floribunda using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with varying quantities and combinations of plant hormones; benzyl amino purine, indole-3butyric acid, naphthalene acetic acid and kinetin. There was a differential response in the medium consisting of hormones and their concentrations on diosgenin accumulation in tubers. The best performance was observed in media supplemented with 2 mg L −1 naphthalene acetic acid and 0.5 mg L −1 kinetin producing viable tubers only in 3 months of culture period and accumulating the higher amount of diosgenin content. Also, results reveal that the faster multiple shoot formation and microtuberization is achieved more efficiently in liquid media. Thus, we have achieved diosgenin production and augmentation in microtubers of D. floribunda.

Human breast tumour cells viability effect of African Dioscorea Rotundata Tuber extracts in MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines

“…Steroidal extracts from D. villosa, D. floribunda and D. deltoidea are used to derive sapogenin and diosgenin used by pharmaceutical companies in the manufacture of cortisone, and other steroids (Avula et al, 2014). Edible Dioscorea species; D. rotundata have not been studied for their phytochemical contents and medicinal values which could be immense and impactful (Mazzio and Soliman 2009;Asha andNair 2005 andOdimegwu, et al, 2017).…”

Micromorphological Characters in Wild Medicinal Species of Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae)

“…Apart from being a major source of steroidal saponin used as precursors for sex hormones, they also serve as an essential source of energy giving food globally. 7 The major edible species of yams occur in three isolated centres: West Africa, Southeast Asia and Tropical America, which are also considered areas for independent yam domestication and represent much diversity. 8 Some yam species are edible, while the wild species are considered as famine food, and other species are sources of phytopharmaceuticals.…”