Plants are very similar to Costus lucanusianus, and hybridize with that species[, ].

Common Name: Spiral Ginger

General Information

Costus aferr is a perennial, rhizomatous herb growing up to 4 metres tall[].
The plant is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa, being mainly harvested from the wild, although it is cultivated in a few areas[]. This has led to reducing numbers in the wild, especially in Ethiopia, and some cause of concern[]. Spiral ginger is often planted in home gardens for medicinal purposes and is widely used for ceremonial and religious purposes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to Tanzania, Malawi and Angola.

Habitat

The shaded floor of the rainforest or lowland secondary forest[]. Moist localities in forest and forest edges, at elevations up to 1400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a very fertile, moist but well-drained acid soil and a position in some shade[, ]. Plants also succeed in full sun[].
Spiral ginger is a very vigorous grower. It flowers and fruits throughout the year, depending on the humidity of the soil[].

Edible Uses

Leaves[]. An acid flavour[].

Medicinal

Spiral ginger is commonly used as a medicinal plant throughout tropical Africa and modern research has borne out the validity of many of its uses[].
The stem, seeds and rhizome contain several steroidal sapogenins, of which diosgenin is the most important one. The rhizome yields 0.5% diosgenin. Diosgenin is a very important raw material used as a precursor in the synthesis of a number of steroidal drugs, including corticosteroids, sex hormones, oral contraceptives and anabolic agents[].
The rhizomes also contain the saponins aferosides A and C, as well as dioscin and paryphyllin C and the flavonoid glycoside kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside. The last compound showed an ability to potentiate in vitro cisplatin cytotoxicity in a human colon cancer cell line[].
A papaverine-like alkaloid is found in the rhizome which causes relaxation of smooth muscle and is anti-spasmodic, diuretic and central nervous system depressant[].
The methanol extract of the rhizome showed significant topical anti-inflammatory activity[].
The saponin fraction from the rhizomes and the methanolic leaf extract showed significant abortifacient activity[].
Sesquiterpenoids are the most abundant group of volatile compounds in the essential oil of the leaves[]. The essential oil did not show any antimicrobial activity[].
The aqueous extract of the leaves and stems showed significant antibacterial and amoebicidal activity in vitro[].
The methanolic leaf extract showed significant cytotoxicity[]. The same extract showed moderate local anaesthetic activity[]. The extract exhibited antihyperglycaemic activity, and decreased the blood glucose level when applied in small doses; higher doses, however, increased the blood glucose level[].

A decoction of the powdered fruits is used as a cough medicine[].

The stem is strongly diuretic[]. The debarked stem is chewed to alleviate nausea and quench thirst[, ]. A stem decoction, the mashed or chewed stem or the pounded fruit, sometimes mixed with sugar cane juice, are taken to alleviate nausea; to treat rheumatoid arthritis; cough respiratory problems and sore throat[]. A cold water extract of the stem is taken to treat small epileptic attacks[].
The powdered stems are used as an enema to treat worms and haemorrhoids[].
The smoke of the dried stem is inhaled to treat coughs[].

The stem sap is used to treat jaundice and to prevent miscarriage[].
The stem sap is acid and rubefacient and burns on open wounds, but it is also anodyne and healing[]. It is applied externally to treat a range of skin ailments; urethral discharges and venereal diseases[]. It is also rubbed on the body to treat colic[].

An infusion of the inflorescence is taken to treat tachycardia[]. The same infusion or a rhizome infusion is taken to treat stomach complaints[].

The leaf sap, or a rhizome decoction, is taken to treat malaria[].
Externally, the leaf sap is used as eye drops to treat eye troubles and as nose drops to treat headache with vertigo[]. It is used in frictions to treat oedema and fever[].

An infusion of the dried aerial parts is taken to treat hypertension[].

The pulp of the rhizome is applied to abscesses and ulcers to mature them; it is applied to teeth to cure toothache; and mixed with water it is taken internally to treat diarrhoea and amoebic dysentery[]. A rhizome decoction or the raw rhizome is taken to treat leprosy and venereal diseases[].

Other Uses

Strips made from the outer stem are made into baskets[]. It is sometimes cultivated for the stem bark which is used to make table mats and baskets[].

Experiments to use the stem for making paper have been successful[].

The stems are used in house construction[].

The sap can be used to coagulate latex and is also used in skin nourishing creams[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown fresh[]. Germinates best at a temperature of 20c[].
Division[]. The rhizomes are cut into pieces 2.5 cm long and planted in a mixture of sand and peat moss[].
Cuttings of stem sections[]. The stems are cut into pieces 2.5 cm long and planted in a mixture of sand and peat moss[].
Bulbils sometimes develop in the enlarged fruit head of some species. These can be potted up and will grow into new plants[].

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