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Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disease characterized by post-prandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors aim to explore novel therapeutic agents. Herein we report the promises of Dioscorea bulbifera and its bioactive principle, diosgenin as novel α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitor. Among petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and 70% ethanol (v/v) extracts of bulbs of D. bulbifera, ethyl acetate extract showed highest inhibition upto 72.06 ± 0.51% and 82.64 ± 2.32% against α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively. GC-TOF-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extract indicated presence of high diosgenin content. Diosgenin was isolated and identified by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR and confirmed by HPLC which showed an α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition upto 70.94 ± 1.24% and 81.71 ± 3.39%, respectively. Kinetic studies confirmed the uncompetitive mode of binding of diosgenin to α-amylase indicated by lowering of both Km and Vm. Interaction studies revealed the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of α-amylase in presence of diosgenin. Similarly, circular dichroism spectrometry showed diminished negative humped peaks at 208 nm and 222 nm. Molecular docking indicated hydrogen bonding between carboxyl group of Asp300, while hydrophobic interactions between Tyr62, Trp58, Trp59, Val163, His305 and Gln63 residues of α-amylase. Diosgenin interacted with two catalytic residues (Asp352 and Glu411) from α-glucosidase. This is the first report of its kind that provides an intense scientific rationale for use of diosgenin as novel drug candidate for type II diabetes mellitus.

Commercial exploitation of wild yams (Dioscorea spp.) was once a pillar of the Mexican economy and is currently practiced in the USA and Asia. However, no such activity has yet been reported in South America, the continent richest in Dioscorea species. Upon discovery of wild Dioscorea tubers in marketplaces in Bogotá, Colombia, we sought to (1) identify the species being sold, (2) document the medicinal properties attributed to them, and (3) conduct a preliminary characterization of the market for this product in the capital. During the years 2010, 2012, and 2013, 226 semi-structured interviews were conducted with vendors in 82 medicinal plant stalls distributed in marketplaces throughout Bogotá. Tubers of four native species were identified, all wild-harvested: Dioscorea coriacea, Dioscorea lehmannii, Dioscorea meridensis, and Dioscorea polygonoides; all were sold under the generic name zarzaparrilla, with D. coriacea being the most prevalent species. All vendors interviewed recommended Dioscorea spp. for treating \"ailments of the blood,\" with \"blood cleanser,\" and lowering triglycerides and cholesterol as the most often-cited specific uses. Total estimates of sales of wild yams over the study period averaged 488 kg/week, extrapolated to over 25,000 kg/year, with yearly sales varying between 5% and 6% around the mean. This is the first report of raw tubers of any Dioscorea species being commercialized for the treatment of blood or metabolic disorders in Latin America, and the data suggest there is a robust market established in Bogotá. In the interest of public health, pharmacological studies should be undertaken to test the biological activity of these species and to rule out toxicity. We especially recommend population studies of D. coriacea to provide baseline data for sustainable management of this non-timber forest product. La explotación comercial del ñame silvestre (Dioscorea spp.) fue alguna vez pilar de la economía mexicana, y actualmente se practica en los Estados Unidos y Asia. Sin embargo, dicha actividad no se ha observado en América del Sur, el continente más rico en especies de Dioscorea. Tras el hallazgo de túberculos crudos de Dioscorea en las plazas de mercado de Bogotá, Colombia, buscamos 1. Identificar las especies vendidas, 2. documentar las propiedades medicinales que se les atribuyen, y 3. llevar a cabo una caracterización preliminar del mercado de este producto en la capital. Durante los años 2010, 2012 y 2013, se realizaron 226 entrevistas semi-estructuradas con los proveedores de 82 puestos de plantas medicinales, distribuidos en los mercados a lo largo de Bogotá. Se identificaron los tubérculos de cuatro especies nativas, todas extraídas de poblaciones silvestres: D. coriacea, D. lehmannii, D. meridensis y D. polygonoides. Todas son vendidas bajo el nombre genérico de zarzaparrilla, siendo D. coriacea la especie más prevalente. Todos los vendedores entrevistados recomendaron los tubérculos de Dioscorea spp. para el tratamiento de dolencias \"de la sangre\", como \"limpiador de la sangre\" y disminución de los triglicéridos y el colesterol como los usos específicos citados con mayor frecuencia. Los cálculos totales de ventas de ñame silvestre durante el período de estudio, fue de un promedio de 488 kg/semana, extrapolado a más de 25.000 kg por año, con ventas anuales que varían entre 5-6% alrededor de la media. Este es el primer informe de la comercialización de los tubérculos crudos de cualquier especie de Dioscorea, para el tratamiento de trastornos de la sangre o metabólicos en América Latina, y los datos sugieren que hay un mercado robusto establecido en Bogotá. En interés de la salud pública, los estudios farmacológicos deben llevarse a cabo para probar la actividad biológica de estas especies y para descartar toxicidad. Recomendamos especialmente los estudios de población de D. coriacea que proporcionen datos de referencia para la gestión sostenible de este producto forestal no maderable.

Topical application of crude ethanol extracts (CEs) of the leaves of 43 of 51 Jamaican plants produced varying degrees of multiple acaricidal effects on engorged Boophilus microplus Canst., including mortality (M), inhibition of oviposition (IO) and inhibition of embryogenesis (IE). Acaricidal indices (AI) ranged from 50 to 100 for the CEs of 29 plants, 38 to 47 for 9 plants and from 0 to < 25 for 13 plants. The most active CEs, in decreasing order of activity (AI values in parentheses) were those of: Simarouba glauca (100), Symphytum officinale (99), Nicotiana tabacum (95), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (93), Ervatamia divaricata = Ricinus communis (82), Salvia serotina (80), Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (79), Blighia sapida = Ocimum micranlhum (76), Spigelia anthelmia (75), Cycloptis semicordata (74), Mormordica charantia (71), Bontia daphnoides (69), Azadirachta indica (68), Capsicum annum = Catharantus roseus = Petiveria alliacea (66), Gliricida sepium (64), Lippia alba (62), Cuscuta americana = Erythrina corallodendrum (61), Piper amalago (60), Cannabis sativa = Cecropia peltata (58), Dioscorea polygonoides (56), Artocarpus altilis (53), Crotalaria retusa (51), Citrus aurantium (50).