Research Article

Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species)

Volume: 5 Number: 2 June 28, 2021
Phılıppa Ojımelukwe *, Chijioke Muoasinam , Rachael Omodamiro
EN

Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species)

Abstract

Yams (Discorea spp) are food security crops which serve as invaluable food sources of energy, micronutrients and phytochemicals with numerous health benefits. They show a lot of genetic and compositional diversity. New biologically active compounds are being identified from wild yams. This review focuses on the nutrients, and phytochemicals found in yam species and their health benefits. The B group of vitamins, vitamin C, pro-vitamin A; copper; manganese; isoflavones; steroidal saponins; alkaloids; terpenes; and anthocyanidins are found in different species of yams. Wild yams such as Discorea villosa and Discorea hispida are used in ethnomedicine because of their phytochemical content. Diosgenin, dioscorin, dioscin dihydrodiscorine protodioscin, methyprotodioscin, prosapogenin, epifzelechin, glucopyranoside, phytoestrogen and allantoin are bioactive phytochemicals that may be found in yams. They are valuable as anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing lipid lowering and hepatoprotective agents. Other claims based on traditional uses of yams have not been scientifically substantiated. Dioscorea species are likely to contain other unidentified secondary metabolites. Discorea species with other health promoting bioactive compounds should be identified; modern techniques should be used to extract yet unidentified compounds in Discorea and the food use and health benefits of yam species should be optimized.

Keywords

Yams, Composition, Nutrients, Phytochemicals

Supporting Institution

MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE, NIGERIA

Project Number

NONE

References

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APA
Ojımelukwe, P., Muoasinam, C., & Omodamiro, R. (2021). Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species). International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 5(2), 179-190. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7
AMA
1.Ojımelukwe P, Muoasinam C, Omodamiro R. Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species). int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2021;5(2):179-190. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7
Chicago
Ojımelukwe, Phılıppa, Chijioke Muoasinam, and Rachael Omodamiro. 2021. “Current Perspectives on the Nutrient Composition and Health Benefits of Yams (Discorea Species)”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 5 (2): 179-90. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7.
EndNote
Ojımelukwe P, Muoasinam C, Omodamiro R (June 1, 2021) Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species). International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 5 2 179–190.
IEEE
[1]P. Ojımelukwe, C. Muoasinam, and R. Omodamiro, “Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species)”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 179–190, June 2021, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7.
ISNAD
Ojımelukwe, Phılıppa - Muoasinam, Chijioke - Omodamiro, Rachael. “Current Perspectives on the Nutrient Composition and Health Benefits of Yams (Discorea Species)”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 5/2 (June 1, 2021): 179-190. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7.
JAMA
1.Ojımelukwe P, Muoasinam C, Omodamiro R. Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species). int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2021;5:179–190.
MLA
Ojımelukwe, Phılıppa, et al. “Current Perspectives on the Nutrient Composition and Health Benefits of Yams (Discorea Species)”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 5, no. 2, June 2021, pp. 179-90, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7.
Vancouver
1.Phılıppa Ojımelukwe, Chijioke Muoasinam, Rachael Omodamiro. Current perspectives on the Nutrient composition and health benefits of yams (Discorea species). int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2021 Jun. 1;5(2):179-90. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2021.2.7