Costus spiralis
Costus spiralis, commonly known as spiral ginger, is a striking perennial plant prized for its ornamental beauty and medicinal potential. Characterized by its unique spiral stem and vibrant blooms, this species is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat inflammatory conditions, digestive ailments, and skin irritations through herbal applications.
- Scientific name: Costus spiralis
- Family: Costaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Zingiberales and placed in the family Costaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Costus as Costus spiralis.
| 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 spiralis, is recognized by various regional names across different cultures. In Arabic, it is referred to as قسط حلزوني, while in Indonesia, it is commonly called Pacing pentul. Additionally, in Chinese, the plant is known as 鳞甲姜.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | قسط حلزوني | Wikidata |
| id | Pacing pentul | Wikidata |
| zh | 鳞甲姜 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is native to several specific regions across the Caribbean and Northern South America. Within the Caribbean, its range includes the island of Cuba as well as the Venezuelan Antilles. Moving toward the mainland, the species is also found throughout Northern South America. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of French Guiana and Guyana. Finally, its geographical distribution extends into the country of Suriname.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean | Cuba | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Venezuelan Antilles | WCVP |
| Northern South America | French Guiana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Guyana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Suriname | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Costus spiralis, utilizes various components of its structure for medicinal purposes, with a particular focus on its leaves. The leaves are characterized by their distinct spiral arrangement along the stem and serve as a primary source for extracting bioactive compounds. Within these leaves, different leaf fractions can be isolated through specialized processes, each containing unique concentrations of phytochemicals that contribute to the plant's overall therapeutic potential.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf fractions | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Costus spiralis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, condensed tannins, flavonoids, saponins, schaftoside.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| schaftoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vicenin II | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Costus spiralis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Costus spiralis has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include arthritis, calculi, cough, inflammation, kidney diseases.
- Total uses
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| calculi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kidney diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kidney stones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nociception | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peritonitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyelonephritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |