Threatened nutritional, therapeutic, and technological prospects of Dioscorea bulbifera—a review

Just like breathing, food is vital for the proper functioning of our bodies and our lives. Food security is essential for every human being to meet their nutritional and functional needs. It remains a major concern in developing countries. Ensuring global food and nutritional security remains a major challenge, particularly in developing countries facing climate change and resource limitations. To address this, the valorization of underutilized local crops such as Dioscorea bulbifera (aerial yam) is crucial. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and therapeutic and technological potentials of Dioscorea bulbifera. It reports a richness in carbohydrates and minerals such as potassium in dana tubers. It highlights that boiling, steaming, and roasting enhance its functional and antioxidant properties, while fermentation and sulfiting improve its bioavailability and safety especially minerals and protein digestibility. Furthermore, Dioscorea bulbifera flour demonstrates strong potential for gluten-free and composite bakery formulations according to his starch content and functional properties especially water retention and resistance to shear stress. These findings underscore the crop’s value as a sustainable ingredient for functional food development and nutritional security.