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Dioscorea deltoidea
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Local name: Shingli Mingli
- Botanical name: Dioscorea deltoidea
- English name: Elephant's foot
- Found between 1800m and 2200m, normally on the border of forests
- The rhizomes of Dioscorea deltoidea are a source of diosgenin, a steroidal
sapogenin used as raw material for production of steroidal drugs which
include cortico steroids, sex hormones, oral contraceptives and anabolic
agents.
- Locally, roots used as a soap substitute
- Cultivation notes: for optimum yield, roots should be harvested after
3 years. Estimated yield is 350 quintals per hectare, valued at 5 lakh
rupees
- CITES listed; appendix II
- Export permit fee: 900 Rs. per quintal
- Local market price (kullu, nov 2003): bought at 26 /- per kg, sold
at 43 /- per kg