Costus pictus
Costus pictus, commonly known as the Crepe Ginger, is a stunning tropical perennial celebrated for its striking, paper-like flowers. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices, often utilized for its potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and healing properties within various holistic wellness traditions worldwide.
- Scientific name: Costus pictus
- Family: Costaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Zingiberales and the family Costaceae, it is classified under the genus Costus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Costaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Costus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Costus pictus, is recognized by several different common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 纹瓣宝塔姜 or 纹瓣闭鞘姜, with the specific traditional character variations for Taiwan being 紋瓣寳塔薑.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 纹瓣宝塔姜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 纹瓣宝塔姜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紋瓣寳塔薑 | Wikidata |
| zh | 纹瓣闭鞘姜 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide-ranging presence across various regions within the country of Mexico. It can be found growing throughout Mexico Central, establishing a foothold in the heart of the nation. The distribution extends into Mexico Northeast, covering much of the upper territories. Furthermore, it is documented in the coastal areas of Mexico Gulf and the arid landscapes of Mexico Northwest. Finally, the species completes its geographical spread by inhabiting the diverse environments of Mexico Southwest.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Crepe Ginger, utilizes various components for its medicinal and biological properties. The large, lanceolate leaves are a prominent feature, often studied for their ability to help regulate blood sugar levels. Below the surface, the thick, fleshy rhizomes serve as the primary storage organs and are frequently used in traditional remedies due to their concentrated bioactive compounds. Whether examining the structural integrity of a single leaf or the nutrient-rich underground stems, each part of Costus pictus contributes to its unique profile in herbal medicine.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rhizomes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Costus pictus has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saponins, Gallic acid, anthocyanin, ascorbic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catalase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| corosolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Costus pictus has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Diuretic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Costus pictus has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus.
- Total uses
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella typhi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triple negative breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |