Plant Comparison
Wild Yam vs Vervain
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Wild Yam and Vervain: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, back pain, headache, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Wild Yam | Vervain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Back pain | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Headache | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Pain (general) | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Diosgenin is an industrial precursor for making steroid hormones in the laboratory, but it is NOT converted into hormones in the human body. Oral bioavailability of diosgenin is low; in animal studies orally administered diosgenin restored skin thickness in ovariectomised mice and lowered blood lipids.
Characteristic constituents; verbenalin has a dopaminergic effect.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.
Supporting antioxidant and aromatic constituents.
Pharmacological Actions
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Anti-inflammatory for joint and inflammatory pain
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
Digestive bitter and relief of mild mental stress
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional support for menopausal symptoms (see safety note - it does NOT act as a natural progesterone) - a placebo-controlled crossover RCT of topical wild yam cream found little effect on menopausal symptoms, lipids or hormones
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Anti-inflammatory for joint and inflammatory pain
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidepressant action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
Nervine / anxiolytic for nervous tension and mild anxiety; supports sleep (traditional) - a crude extract showed anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activity in animal models
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Digestive bitter and relief of mild mental stress
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
IMPORTANT myth-bust: wild yam / diosgenin is NOT converted into progesterone or DHEA in the body, so it does not work as a 'natural progesterone' - claims to that effect are incorrect. Consistent with this, a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial of topical wild yam cream found no significant change in symptoms, serum/salivary progesterone, oestradiol, FSH or lipids.
Generally well tolerated orally (no acute or subchronic toxicity in animal studies); large doses may cause nausea or vomiting. Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy and breastfeeding and in hormone-sensitive conditions as a precaution.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Twining, herbaceous perennial vine with heart-shaped leaves arising from a knotty, woody, cinnamon-brown rhizome ('root'). Small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers are borne on separate male and female plants, followed on female plants by small three-winged seed capsules.[10]
Slender, upright perennial herb with wiry, square, sparsely hairy stems and deeply lobed, toothed leaves. Tiny, pale lilac to pale purple, five-lobed flowers are borne sparsely along thin, wiry spikes at the ends of the branches, opening a few at a time.[11]
Habitat
Harvesting
The knotty rhizome is dug in autumn once the aerial vine has died back, then cleaned and dried.
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer as the plant comes into flower and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.
Traditional Uses
Wild yam root has a Native American and Eclectic-medicine history as an antispasmodic remedy for colic, menstrual cramps and rheumatic joint pain (reflected in the old names 'colic root' and 'rheumatism root'); despite a persistent modern myth, its diosgenin content is not converted into progesterone or other hormones in the human body.[10]
Vervain has an ancient European reputation, reflected in its old names 'holy herb' and 'herb of the cross', as a calming nervine for nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness, and as a bitter digestive tonic; it has also traditionally been used topically and internally for aches, pains and mild inflammation.[11]
Preparations
References
Lookalikes Review
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
References & Sources
- Depypere, H.T. and Comhaire, F.H (2013) 'Herbal preparations for the menopause: beyond isoflavones and black cohosh', Maturitas, 77(2), pp. 191-194. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.11.001 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.11.001 - Cai, B., Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Xu, D. et al (2020) 'Therapeutic Potential of Diosgenin and Its Major Derivatives against Neurological Diseases: Recent Advances', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 3153082. doi:10.1155/2020/3153082 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3153082 - Raj, P.S., Bergfeld, W.F., Belsito, D.V., Cohen, D.E. et al (2023) 'Safety Assessment of Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract as Used in Cosmetics', International Journal of Toxicology, 42(3_suppl), pp. 29S-31S. doi:10.1177/10915818231204230 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1177/10915818231204230 - Dong, S., Nikolic, D., Simmler, C., Qiu, F., van Breemen, R.B., Soejarto, D.D., Pauli, G.F. and Chen, S (2012) 'Diarylheptanoids from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Journal of Natural Products, 75(12), pp. 2168-2177. doi:10.1021/np300603z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np300603z - Dong, S., Cai, G., Napolitano, J.G., Nikolic, D., Lankin, D.C., McAlpine, J.B., van Breemen, R.B., Soejarto, D.D., Pauli, G.F. and Chen, S (2013) 'Lipidated steroid saponins from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Fitoterapia, 91, pp. 113-124. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2013.07.018 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2013.07.018 - Wojcikowski, K., Wohlmuth, H., Johnson, D.W. and Gobe, G (2008) 'Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) induces chronic kidney injury via pro-fibrotic pathways', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(9), pp. 3122-3131. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2008.06.090 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.06.090 - Mazzio, E., Almalki, A., Darling-Reed, S.F. and Soliman, K.F.A (2021) 'Effects of wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa) extract on the gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer cells', Cancer Genomics & Proteomics, 18(6), pp. 735-755. doi:10.21873/cgp.20294 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.21873/cgp.20294 - Ali, Z., Smillie, T.J. and Khan, I.A (2013) 'Cholestane steroid glycosides from the rhizomes of Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Carbohydrate Research, 370, pp. 86-91. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2012.12.022 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2012.12.022 - Manda, V.K., Avula, B., Ali, Z., Wong, Y., Smillie, T.J., Khan, I.A. and Khan, S.I (2013) 'Characterization of in vitro ADME properties of diosgenin and dioscin from Dioscorea villosa', Planta Medica, 79(15), pp. 1421-1428. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1350699 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1350699 - Lima, C.M., Lima, A.K., Melo, M.G.D., Serafini, M.R., Oliveira, D.L., de Almeida, E.B., Barreto, R.S.S., Nogueira, P.C., Moraes, V.R.S., Oliveira, E.R.A., de Albuquerque, R.L.C., Quintans-Junior, L.J. and Araujo, A.A.S (2013) 'Bioassay-guided evaluation of Dioscorea villosa - an acute and subchronic toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory approach', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-195 - Avula, B., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Ali, Z., Smillie, T.J., Zweigenbaum, J. and Khan, I.A (2014) 'Characterization of steroidal saponins from Dioscorea villosa and D. cayenensis using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry', Planta Medica, 80(4), pp. 321-329. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1360330 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1360330 - Siddiqui, M.A., Ali, Z., Chittiboyina, A.G. and Khan, I.A (2018) 'Hepatoprotective effect of steroidal glycosides from Dioscorea villosa on hydrogen peroxide-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, pp. 797. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00797 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00797 - Hayes, P.Y., Lambert, L.K., Lehmann, R., Penman, K., Kitching, W. and De Voss, J.J (2007) 'Complete 1H and 13C assignments of the four major saponins from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 45(11), pp. 1001-1005. doi:10.1002/mrc.2071 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/mrc.2071 - Okawara, M. and Tokudome, Y. and Todo, H. and Sugibayashi, K. and Hashimoto, F (2013) 'Enhancement of diosgenin distribution in the skin by cyclodextrin complexation following oral administration', Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 36(1), pp. 36--40. doi:10.1248/bpb.b12-00467 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b12-00467 - Komesaroff, P.A., Black, C.V., Cable, V. and Sudhir, K (2001) 'Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women', Climacteric, 4(2), pp. 144--150. doi:10.1080/cmt.4.2.144.150 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1080/cmt.4.2.144.150
- Bekara, A., Amazouz, A. and Douma, T.B (2020) 'Evaluating the Antidepressant Effect of Verbena officinalis L. (Vervain) Aqueous Extract in Adult Rats', Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 11(1), pp. 91-98. doi:10.32598/bcn.11.1.3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.32598/bcn.11.1.3 - Rodrigues Oliveira, S.M., Dias, E., Girol, A.P., Silva, H. and others (2022) 'Exercise Training and Verbena officinalis L. Affect Pre-Clinical and Histological Parameters', Plants, 11(22), pp. 3115. doi:10.3390/plants11223115 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223115 - Dong, J., Du, C., Xu, C., Wang, Q. and others (2023) 'Verbenalin attenuates hepatic damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in alcohol-associated steatohepatitis by regulating MDMX/PPARalpha-mediated ferroptosis', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 307, pp. 116227. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116227 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116227 - Nisar, R., Adhikary, S., Ahmad, S. and Alam, M.A (2022) 'In Vitro Antimelanoma Properties of Verbena officinalis Fractions', Molecules, 27(19), pp. 6329. doi:10.3390/molecules27196329 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196329 - Dai, X., Zhou, X., Shao, R., Zhao, R. and others (2023) 'Bioactive Constituents of Verbena officinalis Alleviate Inflammation and Enhance Killing Efficiency of Natural Killer Cells', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(8), pp. 7144. doi:10.3390/ijms24087144 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087144 - Zhang, W., Zhang, P., Xu, L.H., Gao, K. and others (2023) 'Ethanol extract of Verbena officinalis alleviates MCAO-induced ischaemic stroke by inhibiting IL17A pathway-regulated neuroinflammation', Phytomedicine, 123, pp. 155237. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155237 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155237 - Kubica, P., Szopa, A. and Ekiert, H (2017) 'Production of verbascoside and phenolic acids in biomass of Verbena officinalis L. (vervain) cultured under different in vitro conditions', Natural Product Research, 31(14), pp. 1663-1668. doi:10.1080/14786419.2017.1286477 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1286477 - Yang, J.Y., Guo, C.S., Su, L., Xu, C.X. and others (2023) 'Four undescribed triterpenes from the aerial parts of Verbena officinalis', Fitoterapia, 170, pp. 105670. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105670 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105670 - Chen, Y., Gan, Y., Yu, J., Ye, X. and others (2023) 'Key ingredients in Verbena officinalis and determination of their anti-atherosclerotic effect using a computer-aided drug design approach', Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, pp. 1154266. doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1154266 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1154266 - Peng, S., Li, F., Yu, K., Zhou, F. and others (2022) 'Integrating transcriptome and chemical analyses to reveal the anti-Alzheimer's disease components in Verbena officinalis Linn', Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, pp. 955075. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.955075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.955075 - (2020) 'Verbena officinalis (Common Vervain) - A Review on the Investigations of This Medicinally Important Plant Species', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/a-1232-5758 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1232-5758 - Khan, A.W., Khan, A.U. and Ahmed, T (2016) 'Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic, and Sedative Activities of Verbena officinalis', Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00499 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2016.00499 - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.