Action of Diosgenin and homoeopathic pathogenesis of Dioscorea villosa

Abstract

Background: Dioscorea villosa is a popular herbal remedy for pains. Early Americans used this to treat colic which is also established in homoeopathic proving and verified clinically along with other important phenomena. Diosgenin is its primary active ingredient. It has been investigated that all possible revealed actions of this plant are due to this ingredient. Objective: The aim of this study is to understand pathological background and prescribing areas of D. villosa by correlating and analyzing Homoeopathic pathogenesis with the knowledge of pathophysiological activities of Diosgenin. Study Method: Information was collected from various researches on animal and human models regarding actions of Diosgenin. Homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa have been studied and analyzed from 'The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica' by C. Hering and also from the experiences of different authors to find pathological background as well as prescribing areas of D. villosa by correlating with the actions of Diosgenin. Result: Diosgenin has prominent action on cholesterol metabolism, hormones (oestrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]), inflammations, and allergic activities on animal and human models. These pathological actions of Diosgenin have similarity with the pathological background of homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa. Conclusion: Actions of Diosgenin reflect in the homoeopathic pathogenesis of D. villosa such as altered cholesterol metabolism, irregularity of hormonal (DHEA and estrogen) functions, and anti‑inflammatory and anti‑allergic phenomena with their related manifestations. Moreover, these might be the underlying pathological essence of this drug.