Yam extracts (Dioscorea batatas) have been reported to possess a variety of functions. However, studies on its osteogenic properties are limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of ethanol and water extracts on osteoblast proliferation and bone matrix protein synthesis, type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), using osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell model. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with yam ethanol and water extracts (0~30 mg/L) within 39 days of osteoblast differentiation period. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Bone matrix proteins were assessed by the accumulation of type I collagen and ALP activity by staining the cell layers for matrix staining. Also, the secreted (media) matrix protein concentration (type I collagen) and enzyme activity (ALP) were measured colorimetrically. Yam ethanol and water extracts stimulated cell proliferation within the range of 15~30 mg/L at 15 day treatment. The accumulation of type I collagen in the extracellular matrix, as well as secreted collagen in the media, increased with increasing doses of yam ethanol (3~15 mg/L) and water (3~30 mg/L) extracts. ALP activity was not affected by yam ethanol extracts. Our results demonstrated that yam extracts stimulated osteoblast proliferation and enhanced the accumulation of the collagenous bone matrix protein type I collagen in the extracellular matrix. These results suggest that yam extracts may be a potential activator for bone formation by increasing osteoblast proliferation and increasing bone matrix protein type I collagen. Before confirming the osteogenic action of yam, further studies for clarifying how and whereby yam extracts can stimulate this ostegenesis action are required.