The tubers are carried in the axils of the leaves and have a rough-textured surface, usually growing up to 10 cm long. The leaves are opposite, but usually alternate at the base of the vine. The leaves are heart-shaped with rounded basal lobes or arrowhead-shaped with angular basal lobes; 5 to 7 arched, longitudinal veins are conspicuous. The leaf segments are 20 cm long and 15 cm wide, and the petioles are usually long. Rarely produced fruits are also three-winged capsules in drooping panicles. Dioscorea's bioactive compounds, such as phenanthrene derivatives, steroidal saponins, polysaccharides and polyphenols, show anti-inflammatory activity and have excellent effects on a wide range of inflammatory diseases.

Other compounds: Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids and phenolic compounds