Curculigo pilosa

Curculigo pilosa

Curculigo pilosa

Common Names: African Crocus, Hairy Curculigo
Local Names: Nigeria: Epakun (Yoruba), Dooyar Kureegee (Hausa), Biriji Jire (Fula-Fulfulde) | Ghana: Bebengaa (Adangme) | Senegal: Toyhõ (Mandinka)
Species ID: NMP-032 | wfo-0000764805 |  NCBI:txid1037973

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Monocots

Order: Asparagales

Family: Hypoxidaceae

Genus: Curculigo

Species: C. pilosa

Binomial Name: Curculigo pilosa (Schumach. & Thonn.) Engl.

Synonyms: Gethyllis pilosa Schumach. & Thonn., Curculigo gallabatensis Schweinf. ex Baker, Curculigo minor Guinea

Morphological Description

Curculigo pilosa is a perennial, rhizomatous herb growing 6–60 cm tall from a stout, vertical, cylindrical rhizome (2–5 cm long) with scattered contractile roots. Its features include:

·       Leaves: Lanceolate, grass-like, 15–60 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, stiffly erect, covered with stellate hairs

·       Flowers: Small, yellow, 1–2 cm across, on peduncles 5–20 cm long, emerging late dry season (February–April)

·       Fruit: Indehiscent, fusiform capsules, 1–2 cm long, retracting to ground post-fertilization; seeds black, shiny

The plant’s unique peduncle retraction aids seed dispersal near the base (Wiland-Szymańska & Nordal, 2006).

Distribution and Habitat

Curculigo pilosa is widespread across tropical Africa (Senegal to Sudan, south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique) and Madagascar. It thrives in:

·       Regions: Seasonally marshy savannas, woodlands, forest edges

·       Climate: Warm, humid, 25–35°C, rainfall 800–2,000 mm

·       Soil: Well-drained, sandy-loam, often waterlogged in wet seasons

·       Elevation: Sea level to 1,500 m

It adapts to seasonally dry tropical biomes (Burkill, 1985).

Ethnopharmacology

Curculigo pilosa is valued in African traditional medicine, with studies supporting its uses:

·       Aphrodisiac: Some traditional medicine systems have used it as a natural remedy to boost libido.

·       Antimicrobial: Rhizome powder in Nigeria inhibits Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 25 mg/mL) (Nwokonkwo, 2014).

·       Gastrointestinal Disorders: Roots in Burkina Faso treat diarrhea; acetone extracts show antioxidant activity (Karigidi et al., 2020).

·       Purgative: Root decoctions in Northern Nigeria cleanse bowels (Burkill, 1985).

·       Antidiabetic: Rhizome diet in rats lowers glucose (5–10% supplementation) (Karigidi et al., 2020).

·       Wound Healing: Pulp in Central African Republic treats swellings (Burkill, 1985).

·       Cardiovascular: Used in West Africa for heart issues; phenolic compounds linked to vasodilation (Nie et al., 2013).

Phytochemistry

Bioactivity arises from diverse compounds:

·       Phenolics: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (Karigidi et al., 2020)

·       Flavonoids: High in acetone extracts (66.97 mg QUE/g) (Karigidi et al., 2020)

·       Saponins: Antimicrobial, aphrodisiac potential (Nwokonkwo, 2014)

·       β-Amylase: High activity (4850 U/mg), aids starch digestion (Dicko et al., 1999)

·       Alkaloids: Purgative effects (Burkill, 1985)

⚠  Toxicity Profile: Rootstock is non-poisonous; no acute toxicity reported (LD₅₀ > 5,000 mg/kg in rats). High doses may cause mild gastrointestinal upset due to saponins. Caution advised in pregnancy (Karigidi & Olaiya, 2020b).

Additional Uses

·       Culinary: Foliage grazed by herbivores in Sudan; seeds possibly edible

·       Economic: β-amylase in Burkina Faso for sorghum beer, infant food (Dicko et al., 1999)

·       Conservation: Threatened by overharvesting; sustainable practices needed (IUCN, 2011)

References

  • Burkill, H. M. (1985). The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 353–354). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dicko, M. H., Searle-van Leeuwen, M. J. F., Beldman, G., Ouedraogo, O. G., Hilhorst, R., & Traoré, A. S. (1999). Purification and characterization of β-amylase from Curculigo pilosa. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 52(6), 802–805.
  • Karigidi, K. O., Ojebode, M. E., & Olaiya, C. O. (2020). Effect of Curculigo pilosa supplemented diet on blood sugar, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Food Science and Human Wellness, 9(3), 258–265.
  • Nie, Y., Dong, X., He, Y., Yuan, T., Han, T., Rahman, K., Qin, L., & Zhang, Q. (2013). Medicinal plants of genus Curculigo: Traditional uses and a phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 147(3), 547–563.
  • Nwokonkwo, D. C. (2014). Phytochemical composition and antibacterial activities of Curculigo pilosa rhizome. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 5(6), 123–128.
  • Wiland-Szymańska, J., & Nordal, I. (2006). Flora of Tropical East Africa: Hypoxidaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

External Links

More Pictures
Compounds of Curculigo pilosa
References

Shaba, E. Y., Mann, A., & Yisa, J. (2014). Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities and GC-MS analysis of phytocomponents of methanolic extract of Curculigo pilosa (Schum and Thonn) Engl.(Hypoxidaceae) rhizomes. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 4(12), 1552.