Inflammation and Hyper glycemia: Multifaceted Intervention by Dioscorea Bulbifera

Abstract

Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae), commonly known as the air potato, is an important medicinal plant traditionally used in Indian, Chinese, and Thai medicine for treating inflammation, wounds, diabetes, goiters, and certain cancers. Phytochemical studies reveal a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, tannins, glycosides, and essential minerals, which contribute to its broad pharmacological spectrum. Experimental evidence supports potent anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties, as demonstrated in rat and zebrafish models, where extracts significantly reduced edema and blood glucose levels. However, toxicological reports highlight risks such as hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and neurotoxicity, primarily linked to furanoterpenoids like diosbulbin B and certain alkaloids. These dual aspects underscore both the therapeutic promise and safety concerns surrounding D. bulbifera. This review synthesizes its taxonomy, morphology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicological findings, emphasizing the need for future research on bioactive isolation, mechanism elucidation, and safe formulation development for clinical applications.

Introduction

Dioscorea bulbifera (Air potato) is a medicinal plant of the Dioscoreaceae family, traditionally used in Indian, Chinese, and Thai medicine for conditions such as inflammation, diabetes, gastric issues, and injuries. Its tubers and bulbils are rich in proteins, essential amino acids, minerals, steroidal saponins (like diosgenin), flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and other bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer properties.

Pharmacological studies confirm its medicinal potential. In anti-inflammatory tests on Wistar albino rats, ethanol extracts of D. bulbifera significantly reduced paw edema, comparable to aspirin, validating traditional uses. In anti-diabetic studies using the Zebrafish model, D. bulbifera extracts demonstrated potential for regulating blood glucose and supporting insulin function, highlighting its promise as a natural treatment for Type II diabetes.

Overall, Dioscorea bulbifera shows significant therapeutic potential due to its diverse bioactive compounds and traditional medicinal applications, with ongoing studies supporting its use in anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic treatments.

Conclusion

Dioscorea bulbifera L., widely recognized as the air potato, represents a plant of considerable ethnomedicinal and pharmacological importance. Traditionally valued in Indian, Chinese, and Thai medicine for its use in inflammation, diabetes, cancer, and wound healing, modern investigations confirm many of these applications. Phytochemical studies reveal a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds, including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, and tannins, which collectively contribute to its antioxidant. Experimental studies in rodents and zebrafish further validate its therapeutic promise, particularly for reducing edema and regulating hyperglycemia. However, despite these benefits, significant safety concerns remain. Compounds such as diosbulbin B and related furanoterpenoids have been associated with hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and other adverse effects, highlighting the need for cautious and regulated use. The dual nature of D. bulbifera—as both a therapeutic agent and a potential toxicant—underscores the importance of targeted research. Future directions must focus on isolating active compounds, clarifying mechanisms of action, and developing standardized formulations that ensure efficacy while minimizing toxicity. With rigorous scientific validation and safety profiling, Dioscorea bulbifera holds promise as a valuable resource in modern phytotherapy and integrative medicine.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ms. Reshma Dhakate, Shravni Jambhulkar, Shyamal Jadhav, Sara Kawthankar, Sarvesh Patil, Shamit Waghmare, Arshad Tamboli. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.