Is dioscorea poisonous?
Toxicity. Uncultivated forms, such as those found growing wild in Florida, can be poisonous. These varieties contain the steroid diosgenin, which is a principal material used in the manufacture of a number of synthetic steroidal hormones, such as those used in hormonal contraception.
How do you use Dioscorea bulbifera?
Dioscorea bulbifera bulbils are used in the treatment of Piles, dysentery, syphilis, ulcers, cough, leprosy, diabetes, asthma, and cancer. It is a raw material for contraceptives, and it is one of the most consumed yam species especially in West Africa.
How do you know if you have Dioscorea?
Dioscorea bulbifera Aerial tubers are large and roundish in shape. Stems have no spines and no wings. Leaves are heart-shaped and larger than other species. In the Pacific this species is found mostly as a wild or weedy plant with aerial tubers which are poisonous unless specially prepared.
Are air potatoes poisonous?
Answer: Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a member of the yam family. However, uncultivated species – such as air potato – are generally bitter and even poisonous. Air potato is a vigorously twining herbaceous vine, often arising from an underground tuber.
Are air potato vines poisonous to dogs?
Ingestion of the vine may have a poisonous effect on dogs. The vines are highly toxic and can adversely affect the kidneys, brain, heart or liver. Even eating small amounts could result in noticeable damage to your dog’s health.
How do you get rid of air potato vines?
If you have air potato vine on your property:
- Remove vines and underground tubers by hand.
- For larger infestations, cut vines at the base to keep them from smothering other vegetation.
- Another option is to cut the vine just above the ground level and spray it with herbicide.
Can you eat air potatoes?
The air potato might be a type of wild yam, but that doesn’t mean you can eat the tubers of the wild, uncultivated plant. They contain steroidal saponins, powerful constituents that are used to synthesize cortisone and human sex hormones in laboratories. Eaten raw or even cooked, the tubers could be poisonous.
What is Dioscorea SPP?
Yam (Dioscorea spp.) provides food and medicines to millions of people in the world especially in the tropics and sub tropics. It is recognized as the fourth most important tuber crop after potatoes, cassava, and sweet potatoes. It contributes about 10% of the total root and tubers production around the world.
Is the Dioscorea aerial yam edible or poisonous?
Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves [ 174 ]. The aerial bulbs of this species contain toxic substances, including the alkaloid dioscorine [ 300 ]. This can be destroyed by thorough cooking [ 300 ].
Where can I find Dioscorea bulbifera in the world?
Currently, D. bulbifera is widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas in America, the West Indies, and Pacific Islands ( ISSG, 2012; USDA-ARS, 2012 ). The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available.
How many species are there in the Dioscoreaceae family?
The family Dioscoreaceae includes about 4–6 genera and 870 species. The members of this family are often herbaceous and climber vines. The circumscription of this family still remains controversial.
