市场上作商品淮山药流通而药典未收载的山药(原植物为山薯(Dioscorea fordii Prain et Burk.)、褐苞薯蓣(D. persimilis Prain et Burk.)、参薯(D. alata L.))，药用历史悠久，药源丰富,已形成了较大的产区。在质量方面,与药典收载的怀山药(原植物为薯蓣(D. opposita Thunb.))比较，其有效成分和主要成分如多糖、尿囊素和氨基酸等含量都极为相似，但在多糖的单糖组成上，占优势的单糖种类不同。在药理试验中，四种山药(包括怀山药)效果都基本相同，具有增强机体能力、助消化和增强免疫功能的效果。因此，我们认为，原植物为山薯、参薯及褐苞薯蓣的淮山药作为新药源开发是可行的。

Huai Shan Yao ( Rhizoma Dioscorea fordii ,. Rhizoma Dioscorea persimilis, Rhizoma Dioscorea alata) are rich in resources and several main cultivated districts have been evolved in the southern provinces. Comparing with the certified Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscorea opposita) contained in Chinese pharmacopoeia, they are similar in the chemical content of polysaccharide, allantoin, amino acids, but differ in the ratio of monosaccharides. The pharmacological experiments showed that they all have the efficacy to strengthen physique, help the food digest well and increase immunity. The authors suggest that these three kinds of Huai Shan Yao are reasonable to be exploited as new resources in Chinese crude drugs.