Food and medicinal values of Dioscorea alata L.

Food and nutritional security are the major concerns in many countries of the world, and to address this concern, it’s now time to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all by searching for alternative foods. The underground edible tuber of Dioscorea alata L. (Dioscoreaceae) is a functional food with high nutritive value and therapeutic potential. It provides food and medicine to millions of people in the world, especially in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is one of the oldest tuber crops cultivated from wild in tropical regions around the world, and it is a staple food for many rural and tribal groups. D. alata tubers have a high medicinal and economic value. These tubers are used for the treatment of different diseases and are also used as tonics. They have diuretic, aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties Tubers contain various phytochemicals such as diosgenin, saponin, flavonoids, dioscorin and other important constituents. These chemicals have vast activities like anticancer, antimicrobial and effects on cardiac diseases as well as CNS. Further research should be carried out to utilize the bioactive compounds present in these tubers for the formulation of new drugs to fight against different diseases.