Yacon

Scientific Name(s): Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H.Rob.
Common Name(s): Batata-yacon, Jiquima, Jiquimilla, Llacon, Poire de terre, Yakon

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 21, 2024.

Clinical Overview

Use

Yacon has been studied as an antiglycemic agent in one small clinical study of short duration (2 days); however, clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication.

Dosing

Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosing recommendations for yacon.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Information regarding potential adverse reactions is lacking. Increased flatulence has occurred.

Toxicology

No data.

Scientific Family

Asteraceae (daisy)

Botany

S. sonchifolius belongs to the Asteraceae (daisy) family and is a perennial herb that originated in the Andean region of South America (ie, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru). S. sonchifolius matures to a shrub or small tree in about 6 to 12 months, reaching a height of about 2.5 m. It grows well in warm areas with low frost in diverse ecological settings (eg, shrubland, native grassland, desert) and usually does not require pesticides against fungi and insects. The edible roots (tubers) of yacon look similar to those of sweet potato but the taste is similar to apple or jicama; yucan roots can be consumed raw or cooked. The leaves are usually brewed as a tea.(Cao 2018, RBG 2022, Yan 2019)

S. sonchifolius has 3 accepted synonyms: Polymnia edulis Wedd., Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl., and Silphium edule Baill. S. sonchifolius has several common names but is most often referred to as yacon or yacόn in the medical literature.(GBIF 2022, Hassler 2022, RBG 2022)

History

S. sonchifolius has been cultivated and consumed as a food or used medicinally since the pre-Incan period. Although native to South America, yacon is widely grown and cultivated due to its high adaptation to different environments, including in areas of China, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. Since the 1980s, global expansion of yacon cultivation and marketing has been driven by studies reporting health benefits. Reported benefits include reductions in glycemia, as well as potential prebiotic effects due to storage of carbohydrates in the form of fructans instead of starch.(Cao 2018, Yan 2019)

Chemistry

S. sonchifolius has an abundance of free sugar and fructans (carbohydrates) with low polymerization (fructooligosaccharides).(Cao 2018) The specific cultivar has been shown to significantly impact constituents of an individual plant; overall, however, the flesh and whole tubers have been found to consist mostly of sucrose, followed by fructose and then glucose. The sugar content of the peel is lower than that of the flesh and whole tuber.(Kjahehei 2018) In addition to carbohydrates, fresh yacon root contains water (more than 70%) and protein.(Cao 2018)

Bioactive compounds in the roots and leaves include polyphenols, flavonoids, fructans, and phytoalexins. Polyphenols are found in highest concentrations in the leaves and stems, with chlorogenic and caffeic acids being the most common, but ferulic and protocatechuic acids have also been identified in the tubers and leaves. Sonchifolin, polymatin B, uvedalin, sesquiterpene lactones, and enhydrin have been isolated from yacon leaf extract. Other leaf constituents include myricetin, rutin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and tryptophan. The roots have small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, including vitamin C, potassium, and tryptophan.(Cao 2018)

Uses and Pharmacology

Yacon roots have been shown to contain an abundance of fructooligosaccharides that include inulin-type oligofructans, which can beneficially modulate intestinal microbiota. Polyphenols found mostly in the leaves and stems provide antioxidant activity. Antibacterial and antifungal compounds have also been identified in yacon leaves.(Cao 2018)

Anti-inflammatory effects

Animal and in vitro data

Anti-inflammatory effects have been demonstrated in animal and in vitro studies, including decreases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).(Baek 2018, Higashimura 2021, Honore 2018)

Antioxidant effects

Animal and in vitro data

Antioxidant activity has been reported in vitro (in skeletal muscle, heart tissue, hepatocarcinoma cells, and hepatocytes) and in animal studies.(Aleman 2019, Dos Santos 2017, Dos Santos 2018, Myint 2019, Russo 2015) Antioxidant activity of the flesh, peel, and whole tubers of S. sonchifolius has been shown to be significantly affected by the cultivar. The radical scavenging activity of the flesh was higher than that of the whole tuber, while that of the peel was lower; radical scavenging activity is believed to be associated with the total phenolic and/or flavonoid content distributed among the plant parts.(Khajehei 2018) Antioxidant activity of chlorogenic and ferulic acid extracted from S. sonchifolius tubers and leaves was shown to be comparable with that of vitamin E.(Park 2013)

Antiprotozoal activity

Animal and in vitro data

Trypanocidal activity of S. sonchifolius leaf extract and 3 of its sesquiterpene lactone fractions (enhydrin, uvedalin, polymatin B) has been demonstrated in vitro.(Frank 2013, Ulloa 2017) Additionally, all 3 fractions have demonstrated leishmanicidal activity stronger than that of 2 positive controls in vitro, as well as in mice, with no signs of toxic effects.(Ulloa 2017)

Appetite sensation effects

Clinical data

In a 2-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 40 nonmenstruating women 19 to 40 years of age, no effect of S. sonchifolius syrup was observed on subjective sensations of hunger, satiety, fullness, desire to eat, postprandial ghrelin, or glucagonlike peptide 1 (GLP-1) compared with placebo. Additionally, no significant treatment differences were observed between groups when stratified by body mass index (BMI) (normal weight [BMI, 18.5 to 24.99 kg/m²] or obese [BMI, 30 to 34.99 kg/m²]).(Adriano 2020)

Cancer

In vitro data

In human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, the methanolic extract of S. sonchifilius leaves significantly inhibited colony formation in a dose-dependent manner and decreased cell migration. The inhibitory effects of the extract on reactive oxygen species suggested that antioxidant effects may have led to cytostasis.(Myint 2019)

CNS effects

Animal and in vitro data

In a rat model, administration of S. sonchifolius tuber extract at higher doses (100 mg/kg) demonstrated antidepressant potential by significantly reducing immobility time compared with untreated controls (P<0.001), as did imipramine, fluoxetine, and reboxetine at 15 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. A similar beneficial effect was observed when yacon tuber extract and the pharmaceutical antidepressants were given alone and when yacon was combined with each of the antidepressant drugs. Significant reductions in immobility were also seen when combination doses of yacon and each antidepressant were reduced by 50%.(Wosko 2021) Similarly, in a behavioral despair mouse model and a learned helplessness rat model, inulin-type oligosaccharides extracted from S. sonchifolius roots and administered orally significantly improved several test results used to reflect antidepressant activity (ie, immobility time, escape deficits) in a dose-dependent manner, without CNS stimulant effects.(An 2016)

Weak acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities have been reported for S. sonchifolius leaf extract in vitro.(Russo 2015) Activity against neuroinflammation has been reported in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease; in vitro assays demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory signals, including a decrease in iNOS, COX-2, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha specifically in the hippocampus.(Baek 2018)

GI effects

Animal data

Yacon demonstrated beneficial effects on intestinal health in a rat model of colorectal cancer development.(Verediano 2020)

Glycemic effects

Animal and in vitro data

Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activity have been reported for S. sonchifolius leaf extract in vitro.(Aziz 2021, Russo 2015) The highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed with a 95% ethanol extract of S. sonchifolius leaves, which was found to have similar activity to acarbose, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 53.75 ppm and 44.9 ppm, respectively.(Aziz 2021)

In a diabetic rat model, administration of S. sonchifolius leaf extract reduced serum glucose to levels comparable to those with controls and improved pancreatic beta-cell function. Up to 64% reductions in glycemia were observed compared with untreated controls. Significant improvements in insulin, triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids were also documented with yacon (P<0.05). In the pancreas, yacon improved the number of normal-sized islet cells and prevented severe alterations seen in untreated diabetic controls. In cardiac tissue, reversal of cardiac fibrosis disorganization and accumulation were also noted.(Dos Santos 2017, Dos Santos 2018) In obese and hyperlipidemic rats fed a high-fat diet, consumption of S. sonchifolius root flour improved visceral adiposity, body weight, energy intake, metabolic parameters (ie, glucose, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance), triglycerides, free fatty acids, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05 vs rats fed a standard diet). Modulation of local and systemic inflammatory processes was documented in the visceral adipose, with reductions noted in proinflammatory cytokines (ie, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta) as well as restoration of the leptin/adiponectin ratio (P<0.05).(Honore 2018) Oral administration of an aqueous S. sonchifolius leaf decoction in a diabetic rat model provided nephroprotection, with significant improvements seen in urinary protein and creatinine clearance compared with untreated diabetic controls (P<0.05).(Honore 2012) In an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model, an aqueous yacon leaf extract was found to have hypoglycemic effects similar to metformin and a Moringa oleifera aqueous extract.(Vargas-Tineo 2020)

In a postmenopausal rat model, a yacon-based product (S. sonchifolius) (providing a standardized dose of 6% inulin/fructooligosaccharides) significantly reduced glucose levels; however, this effect was seen only when the product was consumed continuously before and after ovariectomy and not when given only before or only after induced menopause. Increases in insulin levels were also documented and may have been a result of a reduction in GI tract motility and an increase in GLP-1 production.(de Fatima Laurean Martins 2022)

Clinical data

A 2-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 40 nonmenstruating women (19 to 40 years of age) of normal weight or with obesity (BMI, 18.5 to 24.99 kg/m² and BMI, 30 to 34.99 kg/m², respectively) explored the postprandial glycemic and lipid effects of S. sonchifolius syrup. At 30 minutes after a standard meal plus placebo, significantly higher postprandial glucose and insulin levels were observed compared with after a standard meal plus yacon syrup (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). No significant treatment differences were observed between groups when stratified by BMI. No effects were observed for triglyceride levels between treatment and placebo. Significantly more flatulence was observed with yacon than with placebo (60% vs 10%, respectively).(Adriano 2019) In 26 obese adults enrolled in a 6-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, consumption of a yacon flour breakfast drink daily for 6 weeks plus a restricted-calorie diet did not significantly affect glucose or insulin compared to a controls. However, a positive correlation was identified between changes in insulin and insulin resistance (ie, Homeostasis Model Assessment index-insulin resistance) with changes in the concentration of soluble advanced glycation end products (AGE) receptors. Additionally, the reduction in total body fat in the yacon group was positively correlated with changes in AGEs (P=0.038).(Machado 2019, Ribeiro 2021)

Hepatoprotection

Animal data

Dietary supplementation of powdered S. sonchifolius (yacon) root to rats fed a high-fructose diet in a metabolic syndrome model improved non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathology. Significant improvements were seen in liver weight, hypertriglyceridemia, very low-density lipoprotein, AST, ALT, and hepatic microvesicular steatosis (P<0.05 each). The mechanism appeared to be related to improved oxidative status that reduced damage caused by reactive oxygen species as well as a reduction in apoptosis. Other metabolic improvements in the yacon group included improved glucose tolerance, reduced fasting glucose levels, lower energy intake, a 6% reduction in body weight, and reduced abdominal fat.(Aleman 2019)

Inflammatory bowel disease

Animal data

In a murine colitis model simulating human inflammatory bowel disease, oral administration of S. sonchifolius root powder for 30 days significantly increased the number of mucus-producing goblet cells as well as fecal mucin contents compared with controls. Additionally, colitic features such as intestinal hyperemia, edema, thickening, and ulceration were suppressed in the yacon group. Alterations in gut microbiota were noticed, with greater abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, and Allbaculum and lower abundance of Bacteroides, Sutterella, Desulfovibrio, and Akkermansia in the yacon group relative to controls.(Higashimura 2021)

Male infertility

Animal and in vitro data

Subsequent to previous results (published in Korean-language journals) regarding the spermatogenic and testosterone activities of S. sonchifolius tuber and leaf extracts observed in male rats and healthy human male volunteers, the authors identified chlorogenic and ferulic acids as the active constituents. Dose-dependent increases in sperm counts in the testes of male rats up to 1.8 times higher than controls were observed in the yacon tuber extract group, with similar increases observed in the chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid groups. Additionally, serum testosterone levels were 3 times higher in the tuber extract group than in controls, while the leaf extract demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on degradation of testosterone.(Park 2013)

Weight control

Animal data

In a metabolic syndrome rat model, dietary supplementation of yacon root flour significantly reduced energy intake and abdominal fat and led to a 6% reduction in body weight compared to untreated controls.(Aleman 2019)

Clinical data

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 30 obese adults (mean BMI, 30.4 kg/m²; and mean body fat, 40.2%) with low physical activity and dietary restraint, consumption of a yacon flour drink at breakfast daily for 6 weeks led to significant improvements in body weight, gynoid fat mass, sagittal abdominal diameter, waist circumference, and waist/height index (adjusted P<0.05 for each) compared to controls. In the yacon group, intake of dietary fiber was 52% higher, total lean mass increased, and GI function improved (ie, frequency of constipation, soft stools, hard stools). Flatulence and abdominal pain were reported during the first few days with yacon, which decreased in the second week with no significant differences between groups at study end. The change in total body fat in the yacon group was positively correlated with changes in advanced glycation end products (AGEs; P=0.038).(Machado 2019, Ribeiro 2021)

Dosing

Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosing recommendations for yacon.

Pregnancy / Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

A significantly higher incidence of flatulence (60%) was observed with S. sonchifolius syrup compared with placebo (10%) in a 2-day double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial.(Adriano 2019) A reduction in the bioavailability of iron from pyrophosphate-fortified rice has been documented in rats.(Della Lucia 2013)

Toxicology

In vitro assays of 70% hydroalcoholic extracts of S. sonchifolius leaves and roots (at concentrations of 1 mcg/mL, 10 mcg/mL, 50 mcg/mL, and 100 mcg/mL) documented high cell viability that was comparable with that of the negative control. At leaf extract concentrations of 50 mcg/mL and 100 mcg/mL and a root extract concentration of 100 mcg/mL, significant DNA and genotoxic damage was demonstrated that was at least comparable with that of the positive control. However, no mutagenic effects were observed.(Martinez-Oliveira 2021) An aqueous extract of S. sonchifolius leaves demonstrated decreasing cell viability with increasing strength, as well as cytostatic and genotoxic effects. These results suggest a 2% tea infusion of S. sonchifolius leaves (one tea bag per 100 mL) can be consumed, up to 250 mL/day.(Moreira Szokalo 2020)

Index Terms

Polymnia edulis Wedd.
Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl.
Silphium edule Baill.

References

Disclaimer

This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.

This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.

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Adriano LS, Dionísio AP, Pinto de Abreu FA, et al. Acute postprandial effect of yacon syrup ingestion on appetite: a double blind randomized crossover clinical trial. Food Res Int. 2020;137:109648. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.10964833233227

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