Anti-inflammatory activity of American yam Dioscorea trifida L.f. in food allergy induced by ovalbumin in mice

Tropical ecosystems are particularly rich in edible plant species with different bioactive substances. Among the plants with promising benefits for health are species from the genus Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae), especially those named yam. Recent studies have shown the beneficial effects of different species of Dioscorea, and its main constituent, diosgenine, in the treatment of food allergy. In this study we evaluated the potential of D. trifida, the only yam native from South America, in the treatment of ovalbumin (OVA) induced food allergy in Balb/c mice. HPLC/DAD analysis showed the presence of three very distinctive groups of natural products in extracts and fractions: (I) very polar substances, including allantoin, (II) phenolic substances as flavonoids and phenolic acids and (III) diosgenin and derivatives. Sensitive mice received casein feed with supplementation of crude extract (CE) and fractions. The supplementation with all products from D. trifida reduced IGE, intestinal oedema and mucus production, parameters observed in OVA allergic mice. The results showed the potential of this food to prevent or treat this disease and the necessity to be better explored.