Asian Journal of Plant Sciences1682-39741812-5697Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajps.2021.1.8EzekielAdewole AbiodunOjo TosinOludoro 12021201Background and Objective: There is a growing concern in many parts of Africa on the rate of spread of erstwhile unknown disease and ailments, promoting a change in the dietary pattern. The nutritive value and functional status of most of the food species are unknown. In this study, the nutritional properties and functional potential of some yam species were investigated. Materials and Methods: The proximate analysis was done according to the AOAC, the mineral analysis was done using AAS and the oil was characterized using GC-MS. Results: The Crude protein was highest in Dioscorea alata (19.53±0.84%) and least in Colocasia esculenta (14.80±0.72%) and crude fiber ranged from 4.13±0.55% in Colocasia esculenta, too (1.27±0.15%) in Dioscorea rotunda. It has been reported scientifically the significance of crude fibre in constipation reduction, decrease in bad (LDL) cholesterol. The mineral analysis results in (mg/100 g) ranged from 70.300 mg/100 g (D. rotundata) to 40.260 mg/100 g (D. alata). The characterization of the oil extracts showed the presence of various compounds such as; Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid needed for various physiological functions, stearic acid, palmitic acid and ascorbic acid-2,6-dihexadecanoate, it has been established that ascorbic acid supplementation increases the mRNA levels of PPARα and its target enzymes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation in visceral adipose tissues. Conclusion: The research work has shown that the plants could be classified as functional foods as a result of their richness nutritionally in the range of Dioscorea alata, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea rotunda and D. alata.]]>Gruere, G.P., A. Giuliani and M. Smale,20062006Green, K.R. and S.A. Simons, 1994Dioscorea alata caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.]]>4310621065Kwon, C.S., H.Y. Sohn S.H. Kim, J.H. Kim and K.H. Son et al.,2003Dioscorea nipponica Makino with lipase-inhibitory activity in rodents. ]]>6714511456Alinnor, I.J. and C.O. Akalezi,2010Dioscorea rotundata (White Yam) and Colocasia esculenta (White Cocoyam).]]>99981001Alves, R.M., M.V. Grossmann, C. Ferrero, N.E. Zaritzky, M.N. Martino and M.R. Sierakoski,200254476481AOAC.,198113th Edn.,Pages: 1038Pages: 1038Abara, A.E.,2011Dioscorea bulbifera tuber.]]>10543551Bradbury, J.H. and W.D. Holloway,19981998Adeniji, A., A. Taiga and M.S. Ayodele,2020Dioscorea species in anyigba, Kogi state.]]>8138142Senanayake, S.A., K.K.D.S. Ranaweera, A. Bamunuarachchi and A. Gunaratne,20112011Nimenibo-Uadia, R.I. and A.V. Oriakhi,2017Dioscorea dumetorum pax.]]>21771774Lippard, S. and J.M.J. Berg,1994Pages: 441Pages: 441Vasudevan D.M. and S. Sreekumari,20128th Edn.,Pages: 861Pages: 861Adeyeye, E.I. and M.K.O. Otokiti,1999Capsicum annum L. (Bell and Cherry peppers).]]>117581Britton, J.S., W.K. Lockwood, L. Li, S.M. Cohen and B.A. Edgar,2002Drosophilas Insulin/PI3-Kinase pathway coordinates cellular metabolism with nutritional conditions.]]>2239249Fleck, H.,19763rd Edn.,Pages: 552Pages: 552Adeyeye, E.I. and A.J. Adesina,2018919Eleazu, C.O.,2016(Colocasia esculenta) using GC-MS.]]>5428802885