Phytochemical analysis of D. deltoidea L.: Unveiling bioactive compounds in germplasm collected from regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India

D. deltoidea Wall. ex Griseb. a member of Dioscoreaceae family is an important species of wild yam native to the Himalayan region of Asia. Plant tubers possess an extensive range of therapeutic and economic value due to presence of bioactive compound diosgenin, a steroidal molecule that acts as a precursor in the chemical production of several hormones. The species has become endangered due to its large-scale collection from the wild areas and very poor rate of regeneration. Keeping in view importance of the species, germplasm of D. deltoidea was collected from the high-altitude temperate regions of Kashmir valley through explorations by NBPGR scientists and conserved in the field gene bank of ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Srinagar. These were grown under uniform environmental conditions in order to select elite accessions with higher diosgenin content and other important phytochemical traits. The diosgenin content was determined in tubers by acidic hydrolysis of the glycosides and extraction with an organic solvent, followed by the HPTLC analysis. The wild germplasm collections were found to contain high diosgenin content (1.21-1.88% DW) compared to other Dioscorea species available in India. The results of tuber composition suggested that this wild tuber species of D. deltoidea can be used as a good alternative source of food to alleviated hunger and malnutrition, which are currently big problems in developing countries as well as natural source of diosgenin for pharmaceutical industries.