Dioscorea Nipponskaya

Dioscorea Nippon: description, cultivation and medicinal properties

Dioscorea Nipponensis, or Japanese Dioscorea, is a perennial herbaceous vine that belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family. This species has a climbing stem that can reach a length of up to 4 meters. The rhizome of Dioscorea is thick and branched, horizontal, with lateral branches. Young parts of the rhizome are light. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, with veins. The lower leaves are seven-lobed, the middle leaves are five- and three-lobed, and the lower ones are almost without lobes. Dioscorea Nipponensis blooms in July - August, and the fruit is a triangular elongated capsule, the seeds of which ripen in August - September.

Dioscorea nipponensis is common in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories, and also grows in deciduous forests, in clearings, fires and old fallow lands. Some types of Dioscorea, for example, deltoid, are cultivated in the Crimea and the Caucasus, but can be grown in the Moscow region and other areas with equivalent climatic conditions.

To propagate Dioscorea, tubers and seeds are used. It is grown in well-fertilized soils, but deep tillage is not recommended, as this leads to the formation of thin, long tubers and rhizomes that are difficult to harvest. Rhizomes are planted in the fall to a depth of 6-10 cm in pre-cut furrows, well fertilized with organic matter with row spacing of 60-70 cm and a distance between rhizomes in a row of 20-30 cm. Caring for the plant consists of weeding and loosening the soil. Dioscorea rhizomes are dug up in the 3rd-4th year.

The medicinal raw materials of Dioscorea are rhizomes, which are harvested from April to late autumn. The rhizomes are shaken off the ground, washed with cold water and cut into pieces 30 cm long, withered and dried on the day of collection in a dryer at a temperature of 60-70°C. The finished raw material breaks with a bang when bent. The shelf life is 3 years with annual monitoring of the activity of raw materials.

Dioscorea rhizomes contain various organic compounds, the most important of which are diosgenin and glucyricin. These compounds have many beneficial properties for human health, including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory and antioxidant actions.

Dioscorea nipponensis is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as to reduce blood cholesterol and improve digestion.

In conclusion, Dioscorea nipponensis is a valuable plant that has many beneficial properties for human health. It can be grown at home or cultivated on special plantations. Dioscorea rhizomes can be used to prepare medicines or added to the diet as a dietary supplement. However, before using Dioscorea for medicinal purposes, you should consult your doctor.