Wild yam diosgenin 10%,16%,98%

Wild yam diosgenin

Product nameWild yam extract diosgenin
Latin nameDioscorea villosa, Dioscorea opposita
SynonymsMexican wild yam, Shan yao, colic root, mexican yam, Dioscorea mexicana tuber, Dioscorea Composita
Part usedRhizome, root
Active ingredientsDiosgenin
CAS number512-04-9
Appearance/colorlight yellow to White powder
Specifications6%,10%,16%,20% ,90%, 95% Diosgenin by HPLC, ratio extract 4:1, 10:1, 20:1
benefitsPromotes Female Health, Menopause Support
Applicationsdietary supplements,food additives

What is wild yam extract?
Wild yam is an herbal extract native to North America, Mexico and China with active ingredient diosgenin. There are two main botanical sources: one with Latin name Dioscorea villosa is from North America (mainly from Mexico) while the other with Latin name dioscorea oppositifolia( or Dioscorea opposita) is from China. Although the herbal sources are different, the active ingredients are the same: diosgenin is what supplement manufacturers and clients care about. There are an estimated 600 species of yam in the genus Dioscorea, many of them wild species that flourish in damp woodlands and thickets, and not all contain diosgenin. The popular specifications of wild yam root include 6% Diosgenin , 10% diosgenin , 16% diosgenin, 95% diosgenin, 98% diosgenin and ratio extract 4:1 & 10:1.
Chemical constituents of wild yam extract
There are hundreds of components in the wild yam root, and diosgenin is the most important ingredient in it. What other compounds are in the wild yam root? The main bioactive components of wild yam are the saponin, diosgenin, and the alkaloids, dioscorin and dioscorine. These components are believed to have antispasmodic, cholagogue, and diaphoretic effects. Wild yam contains a progesterone precursor used by the pharmaceutical industry to produce progesterone. According to recent studies and researches, wild yam root contains saponins (including diosgenin) and isoquinuclidine alkaloids (including dioscorin). Saponins include spirostanol, such as dioscin, parrisaponin, prosapogenin A of dioscin (progenin III), progenin II, deltonin, glucosidodeltonin;Furanostanol such as protodioscin, methyl protodioscin, methyl parvifloside, methyl protodeltonin; flavonoids such as two flavan-3-ol glycosides.

Mechanism of action of diosgenin (wild yam)
How does diosgenin work? The detailed method of action is not fully available. However, the steroidal saponins (such as diosgenin) account for some of the activity of wild yam. Another compound, dioscoretine, has been shown in animal studies to lower blood sugar levels.
It has been widely believed that wild yam possesses dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-like properties and acts as a precursor to human sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Based on this proposed mechanism, extracts of the plant have been used to treat painful menstruation, hot flashes, and headaches associated with menopause.

Wild yam VS progesterone

Diosgenin is a steroid precursor. Researchers and manufacturers have used it to create estrogens, progesterones, androgens, and corticosteroids. However, contrary to popular claims, diosgenin IS NOT converted to steroids in vivo. In other words, wild yam roots do not contain and are not converted into progesterone or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the body. There is a great deal of misinformation among consumers, practitioners, and natural product vendors about the connection between wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) and progesterone. While diosgenin can be converted into progesterone in the laboratory, it cannot be converted into progesterone in the human body. Wild yam contains no progesterone, natural or otherwise. Pharmaceutical progesterone is made from wild yam using a chemical conversion process.

Benefits of taking wild yam supplements
Wild yam has been used in ancient China for thousand years to treat inflammation, muscle spasms, and a range of disorders, including asthma. However, in modern supplements, diosgenin or wild yam is primarily utilized as a natural alterative to estrogen therapy for estrogen replacement therapy, vaginal dryness in older women, PMS (premenstrual syndrome), menstrual cramps, weak bones (osteoporosis), increasing energy and sexual drive in men and women, and breast enlargement.
Menopause and Osteoporosis
Wild yam is often advertised as a natural source of estrogen to treat menopausal symptoms or osteoporosis. Wild yam reduces the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, or raise levels of estrogen or progesterone in the body.
High Cholesterol
Dioscoretine, an ingredient from wild yam root, is reported to be able to lower blood sugar levels in animal studies according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Diosgenin was shown to be very promising in raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol) and lowering LDL (the “bad” cholesterol).
Side effects of taking wild yam extract supplement
Wild yam root is generally safe and it is in the CRN List of Dietary Ingredients. No serious side effect cases are reported yet. Anyway, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, wild yam extract may cause issues if you are taking estradiol, an active ingredient found in both birth-control pills and hormone-replacement therapy. Although rare, allergic reactions may occur, so stop taking wild yam extract if you experience any symptoms such as rashes, swelling of the tongue or lips, difficulty breathing or throat swelling.