Elephant Yam: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, Expert says

Elephant yam is also called suran or jimikand in local dialects. It is known by the scientific name Amorphophallus paeoniifolius and is a member of the Araceae family. India has three regional kinds of elephant yam: Gajendra, Sree Padma, and Kusum. It is grown as an intercrop with turmeric and bananas and is a common native food in many nations.

Elephant yam is a perennial herbaceous crop native to south-eastern Asia that is now considered a cash crop in India. A potential tropical tuber crop is elephant yam. The elephant yam tuber is primarily nutrient-rich. Due to their high calcium oxalate content, elephant yam tubers are extremely acidic and can irritate the mouth and throat. Learn more about the advantages of elephant yam for your health.

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Nutritional Value of Elephant Yam

100 grams of elephant yam provides the following amount of nutrients: elephant yam nutrition

Nutritional Component Amount 
Water 69.6 g 
Energy 118 kcal 
Protein 1.53 g 
Total lipid (fat) 0.17 g 
Carbohydrate 27.9 g 
Ash 0.882 g 
Fibre 4.1 g 
sugar 0.5 g 
Calcium 17 mg 
Iron 0.54 mg 
Magnesium 21 mg 
Phosphorus 55 mg 
Potassium 816 mg 
Nutritional Value of Elephant Yam

Properties of Elephant Yam

According to studies, some elephant yam parts may be useful.

  • increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract.2  
  • have flatulence relieving property  
  • possess cytotoxic properties (kills cancer cells) 
  • show antibacterial and antifungal activity 
  • possess properties that may prevent liver damage 
  • possess antioxidant properties 
  • Maybe a potential astringent 
  • May possess anti-inflammatory properties 
  • May have properties that can relieve pain 
  • Maybe have properties that help against parasitic worms

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Health benefits of Elephant Yam

1. Lowering Cholesterol

Elephant foot yam is known to have a great effect in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. It is widely used as a slimming food. Omega-3-fatty acids present in it help in increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the body, while reducing the levels of low-density lipoproteins and very low-density lipoproteins.

Elephant foot yam consists of very low about 0.2-0.4% of fat and high levels about 1.7-5% of fibers, making it an ideal food in the process of weight reduction.

2. Potential use of elephant yam to relieve pain

The elephant yam tuber may provide pain relief. On mice, the elephant yam extract’s analgesic potential was assessed. The creation of prostaglandins, which cause inflammation, may be inhibited by elephant yam.

As an adjunct medication, it might be used to lessen the negative effects of traditional analgesics. If the pain is severe and persistent, seek medical attention rather than self-medicating.

3. Cardiovascular Health

Elephant Yam is really very helpful in maintaining good cardiovascular health. There are various reasons that show the goodness of this vegetable for heart health and they are.

4. Anticoagulant and Anti Inflammatory

Elephant foot yam is a powerful anticoagulant that can help lower the risk of heart attacks. Additionally, it aids in removing clots that have built up in veins and arteries. Additionally, by taking this measure, high blood pressure and other consequences like coronary artery disease may be lessened.

5. elephant yam as an antifungal and antibacterial agent 

Elephant yam extract was tested for its antifungal and antibacterial qualities. Against several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, it had substantial antibacterial activity. Elephant yam contains a phytoconstituent that may have antibacterial and antifungal properties that could help treat infections brought on by microbes.

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6. Cancer Prevention

Elephant yam is excellent for preventing colon cancer because, as we all know, it is packed with nutritional fiber. This vegetable also has a high amount of vitamin A. This vitamin is helpful in avoiding malignancies of the mouth and lungs.

7. elephant yam Slow down ageing

According to certain studies, the potent antioxidants in elephant foot yam are beneficial at slowing down the aging process. Additionally, it aids in reducing the risk of stroke, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin C, another essential component of elephant foot yam, helps to slow down the aging process. It makes one’s skin wrinkle- and spot-free, which slows down the aging process.

8. Diabetes

You all know this fact that Elephant Yam has a low glycemic index and therefore people with diabetes can freely enjoy it without any fear of blood-sugar spike.

9. Detoxification : elephant yam

It is a potent decongestant. Elephant foot yam’s high fiber content demonstrates the liver’s ability to detoxify toxins. The primary benefit of elephant foot yam is that it protects the liver. It aids in the correct cleansing of other internal organs, such as the stomach and intestines, ensuring their pathogen-free status.

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10. elephant yam for liver diseases

The elephant yam flavonoid quercetin might protect the liver from harm. Elephant yam may lower the elevated enzyme level, boost the protein level, and enhance the texture of the injured liver cells, according to studies on the rat liver to assess the hepatoprotective characteristics.

This suggests that it might impact the human liver in some way, but further research on humans is required to confirm this. If you have a disorder involving your liver, you should get medical advice.

Traditional uses and benefits of Elephant Yam

  • Tubers are used as appetizer, aphrodisiac, expectorant, irritant and anti-catarrhal and for liver complaints, tumors, inflammation, hemorrhoids, vomiting, cough, bronchitis, asthma, piles, abdominal pains, dyspepsia and acute rheumatism and for treating spleen enlargement in Indian traditional medicine.
  • Corm is thought as carminative, restorative, stomachic and tonic.
  • It is dried and used in the treatment of piles and dysentery.
  • Corm is used for dropsy, urinary diseases, dyspepsia, toothache, rheumatism, boils, fistula, colitis, hemorrhoids, diuretic, piles, elephantiasis and glandular swellings in Sri Lanka.
  • Tuber is widely used in South India as folk medicine to treat acute rheumatism, tumors, lung swelling, asthma, vomiting and abdominal pain.
  • Traditionally, Elephant Yam tuber is used for the treatment of enlarged spleen, rheumatism and tumor in India.
  • Elephant Yam was one of seven plant species that was found to be most important and frequently used by traditional healers in Palakkad district of Kerala, India, for dermatological infections/diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.

elephant foot yam curry

elephant foot yam curry

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506752#null
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Amorphophallus+paeoniifolius
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AMPA13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphophallus_paeoniifolius
https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Amorphophallus_paeoniifolius
https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=102457

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-8254

https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/244525
https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Elephant%20Foot%20Yam.html