Dioscorein

/ˌdaɪəˈskɔːriɪn/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound found in yam plants, formerly used in pharmaceutical preparations and medicinal applications.

Etymology

From 'dioscorea' plus the chemical suffix '-in'. This compound was identified in the 19th century as scientists began isolating active substances from medicinal plants.

Kelly Says

Dioscorein was a bridge between folk medicine and chemistry—people knew yams had healing power, and chemists found the actual molecule responsible for it.

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