Species ID: NMP-023, wfo-0000362821, NCBI:txid328752
Common Names: Ginger lily, Spiral ginger, Bush cane
Local Names: Igbo: Okpete/Okpoto, Hausa: Kakizuwa, Yoruba: Tete-egun, Efik: Mbritem

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Zingiberales

Family: Costaceae

Genus: Costus

Species: C. afer

Synonyms: Costus megalobractea, Costus oblitterans, Costus pterometra, Costus sarmentosus

Costus afer is a tall, herbaceous perennial plant that can reach up to 4 meters in height. It features spirally arranged leaves and showy white-to-yellow flowers. The creeping rhizomes are robust and adapt well to tropical rainforest conditions. The plant is commonly found along riverbanks and in moist, shaded areas.

Native to tropical Africa, Costus afer ranges from Senegal to Ethiopia and southwards to Angola and Tanzania. It thrives in lowland forests, secondary forests, and moist areas up to 1,400 meters above sea level.

1. Antidiabetic Activity: Extracts of Costus afer demonstrate significant antihyperglycemic effects in diabetes management (Agu et al., 2018).
2. Antioxidant Properties: Exhibits robust antioxidant activity, reducing oxidative stress and improving cellular health (Boison et al., 2019).
3. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Effective in reducing inflammation and alleviating conditions like arthritis (Nworu et al., 2019).
4. Antimicrobial Activity: Active against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (Uchegbu & Ibeji, 2017).
5. Organ Protection: Protects vital organs like the liver and kidneys from oxidative damage (Nwokocha et al., 2021).

·       Studies confirm that C. afer lowers blood glucose levels, validating its use in traditional medicine.

·       Demonstrates organ-protective properties against heavy metal toxicity and oxidative stress.

⚠  Known Toxicity

Costus afer is considered non-toxic when used in traditional dosages. However, further toxicological studies are necessary to confirm its long-term safety.

·       Nutritional Use: The stems and leaves are rich in fiber and micronutrients.

·       Ecological Role: Helps prevent soil erosion along riverbanks.

1. Nwokocha, C. R., Owu, D. U., & McLaren, M. (2021). Multi-organ protective effect of Costus afer on low-concentration heavy metal mixture-induced toxicity. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1), 140.
2. Plants of the World Online. Costus afer. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org
3. Agu, M. O., Tsware, B. J., & Sunday, A. O. (2018). Investigatory study of long-term doses of Costus afer on blood glucose level. Open Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 8(1), 1–14.
4. Boison, D., Julaeha, E., & Ayensu, I. (2019). Costus afer: A systematic review of evidence-based data. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019, 9730981.
5. Nworu, C. S., Onyegbule, A. F., & Oguejiofor, J. O. (2019). Anti-inflammatory properties of Costus afer rhizome extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 245, 112106.
6. Uchegbu, U. N., & Ibeji, C. U. (2017). Antimicrobial activities of Costus afer. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 14(3), 40–50.

1. JSTOR - Costus afer
2. Tropical Database
3. World Flora Online

• Octadecanoic acid
• 4-Methyl-4-hepten-3-one
• 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-
• 9-Octadecenoic acid

Uchegbu, R., Akalazu, J., Ibe, C., Ahuchaogu, A., & Amadikwa, C. (2016). Chemical composition of the stem extract of Costus afer (Bush Cane) and its antimicrobial activity. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 10(5), 1-9.