What is "dioscorea villosa"

Yam \Yam\ (y[a^]m), n. [Pg. inhame, probably from some native name.]

1. (Bot.) A large, esculent, farinaceous tuber of various climbing plants of the genus Dioscorea; also, the plants themselves. Mostly natives of warm climates. The plants have netted-veined, petioled leaves, and pods with three broad wings. The commonest species is Dioscorea sativa, but several others are cultivated.

2. (Bot.) Any one of several cultural varieties of the sweet potato. [U. S.] Chinese yam, a plant ( Dioscorea Batatas) with a long and slender tuber, hardier than most of the other species. Wild yam.

   1. A common plant ( Dioscorea villosa) of the Eastern United States, having a hard and knotty rootstock.

   2. An orchidaceous plant ( Gastrodia sesamoides) of Australia and Tasmania.

Dioscorea villosa is a species of a twining tuberous vine that is native to eastern North America. It is common and widespread in a range stretching from Texas and Florida north to Minnesota, Ontario and Massachusetts.

Creams and dietary supplements made from Dioscorea villosa are claimed to contain human hormones and promoted as a medicine for a variety of purposes, including cancer prevention and the treatment of Crohn's disease and whooping cough. However, according to the American Cancer Society, the claims are false and there is no evidence to support these substances being either safe or effective.

In traditional Russian herbal medicine, saponin extracts from the roots of various varieties of wild yam are used as an anticoagulant, antisclerotic, antispasmodic, cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic and a vasodilator.