Wild Yam

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Clinical Studies
References


Wild Yam is used as a natural alternative for estrogen replacement therapy.  It is helpful for postmenopausal vaginal dryness, premenstrual syndrome, osteoporosis, increasing energy and libido in men and women and for breast enlargement. Wild Yam is also used orally for treating diverticulosis, gallbladder colic, painful menstruation, cramp, rheumatoid arthritis and for increasing energy.

The root and rhizome of Wild Yam contain the glycoside diosgenin, a steroid precursor that was used in the first commercial production of oral contraceptives, topical hormones, systemic corticosteroids, androgens, estrogens, progestogens and other sex hormones. Diosgenin prevents estrogen-induced bile flow suppression. It shows some evidence that it might stimulate growth of mammary tissue and attenuate (indomethacin-induced) intestinal inflammation.

Wild Yam is also an anti-spasmodic, useful in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and intestinal colic. It is anti-inflammatory and stimulates bile flow. It may be beneficial in the control of menopausal symptoms and for balancing female sex hormones, in IBS, diverticulitis, menstrual pain, and ovarian and uterine pain.

 

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Published Clinical Studiesctop

Diosgenin--a growth stimulator of mammary gland of ovariectomized mouse.1

Aradhana, Rao AR, Kale RK.

 

Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

Estrogenic action of diosgenin on the mammary epithelium of ovariectomized (OVX) mouse has been reported. Diosgenin when administered (sc) at the dose levels of 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight for a period of 15 days stimulated the growth of mammary epithelium. This was indicated by the increase in DNA content, increase in number of ducts and appearance of terminal endbuds. There was a significant increase in the mammary development scores in the presence of diosgenin. Concomitant treatment of estrogen and diosgenin showed augmentation of estrogenic effect of diosgenin especially at the higher dose level (40 mg/kg body wt). Diosgenin showed a lack of progesterogenic action as was apparent from the absence of alveolar development even in the presence of exogenous estrogen.

PMID: 1459613 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

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Referencesre

  1. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal, 4th ed., Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
  2. Skolnick AA. Scientific verdict still out on DHEA. JAMA 1996;276:1365-7.
  3. Accatino L, Pizarro M, Solis N, Koenig CS. Effects of diosgenin, a plant-derived steroid, on bile secretion and hepatocellular cholestasis induced by estrogens in the rat. Hepatology 1998;28(1):129-40.
  4. Aradhana AR, Rao AS, Kale RK. Diosgenin-a growth stimulator of mammary gland of ovariectomized mouse. Indian J Exp Biol 1992;30(5):367-70.
  5. Yamada T, et al. Dietary diosgenin attenuates subacute intestinal inflammation associated with indomethacin in rats. Am J Physiol 1997;273(2 Pt 1):G355-64.
  6. Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.
  7. Komesaroff PA, Black CV, Cable V, et al. Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women. Climacteric 2001;4:144-50.
  8. McGuffin M, et al, ed. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997.