Method for enhancing proliferation of bone marrow cells or spleen cells with an ethanol-insoluble extract of dioscorea

Patent Number: 7,419,690

There has been a great interest in patenting natural compounds and plant derivatives for manipulation of the stem cell compartment.  For example, there is an issued patent covering seaweed extract for mobilization of stem cells, pine cone extracts for dendritic cell differentiation, and now the use of Yam extracts for stimulation of bone marrow and T cell proliferation. 

The patent covers the use of various extracts from a tuber of a Dioscorea plant (for example Dioscorea batatas - known as the "Hardy Yam") for augmentation of basal hematopoietic activity, as well as post-insult hematopoietic activity.  The inventors demonstrate accelerated leukocyte recovery after treatment of animals with 5-fluouracil, as well as direct in vitro stimulation of colony forming unit formation.

It will be interesting to see how these bone marrow stimulators synergize or antagonize currently used hematopoietic stem cell stimulators like G-CSF.

View this patent on the USPTO website.