Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 24(1), Jan – Feb 2014; nᵒ 11, 55-60 ISSN 0976 – 044X International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net 55 Anuradha Singh, Neeraj Wadhwa* Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, A-10, Sec 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. * Corresponding author’s E-mail: neeraj.wadhwa@jiit.ac.in Accepted on: 15-10-2013; Finalized on: 31-12-2013. ABSTRACT Amorphophallus paeoniifolius commonly known as “Jimikand”, “Elephant foot yam” is one of the underutilized aroid of araceae family. It is tuberous, stout indigenous herbs used in ayurvedic medicine system for treating various human ailments. In recent years the popularity of complementary medicine has increased. The present review compiles the existing literature related to botanical description propagation, nutrient composition, phyto-chemical constituents, traditional uses, pharmacological actions and production of value added products of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius. Keywords: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Traditional Medicinal use, Value added products. INTRODUCTION morphophallus paeoniifolius known as Elephant foot yam is a highly potential tropical tuber crop of Araceae family. It is an important tuber crop of tropical and sub-tropical countries because of its yield potential and culinary properties. 1 Elephant foot yam is widely grown and consumed in south eastern countries like India, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia. In India, it has gained the status of a cash crop due to its high production potential, market acceptability and lucrative economic returns with a production potential (50-80 t ha-1). 2 It has a good source of protein as well as starch and is very popular as a vegetable in various Indian cuisines. In India, it is cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. The net economic return is over 1 lakh rupees per ha. It has a great export potential since its commercial cultivation is not in other countries . 3, 4 Local names of Plant English (Elephant foot yam, Whitespot Giant Arum, Sweet Yam, Telinga Potato); Hindi name (Suranakanda, Zimikanda); Bengali name (Ole); Fijian (Suran); Japanese (Koniaku, Konjac, Konnyaku); Thai (Buk Khang); Tamil (kizhangu); Kannada (suvarna gedde); Oriya (oluo); telugu (kanda gadda). Scientific Classification Kingdom: Plantae Division : Angiosperms Class: Monocots Order: Alismatales Family: Araceae Genus: Amorphophallus Species: paeoniifolius Synonyms : A campanulatus Figure 1: Photographs of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius [(A) Plant (B) Corm] Ayurvedic properties Rasa- Katu, Kashaya Guna-Ruksha, Tikshna, Guru, Vishada, Laghu Vipaka-Katu Veerya- Ushna Karma- external -Shothahara, Vedanasthapana Internal- Arshaghna, Vatahara, Kaphahara, Yakrit-Uttejaka. 5 Botanical description Amorphophallus is a perennial, terrestrial underground hemispherical depressed dark brown corm of approximately 20-25 cm in diameter which bears flowers and fruits in the month of April – May. 6, 7 It bears leaves that are solitary which are 30-90 cm broad; Inflorescence consist of a foliar organ, the spathe, which usually envelops a stalk –like organ, the spadix. The flowers are tiny, monoecious and strongly reduced and are found at the base of the spadix. Raphides of the Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume (syn. paeonifolius) isolated from tuber are pointed at one end and square at other end, cross section is ‘X’-shaped at pointed end and they are asymmetrical. 8 A Review on M ultiple Potential of Aroid: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius A Review Article