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PLANT
IMAGES
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Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Theobroma
Species: Costus speciosus
Common Names: Canahuate, Crepe Ginger, Malay Ginger
Parts Used: roots, inner stem
| PLANT DESCRIPTION | Documented Properties
& Actions: | Rhizomes are bitter,
astringent, acrid, cooling, aphrodisiac, purgative, anthelmintic, depurative,
febrifuge, expectorant and tonic and useful in burning sensation, constipation,
lepsory, worm infection, skin diseases, fever, asthma, bronchitis, inflammatians
and anaemia.
| Plant
Chemicals
Include:
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Tigogenin and diosgenin from rhizomes (2.6% diosgenin)
and stems have been isolated. a-amyrin stearate,
b-amyrin and lupeol. Palmitates from leaves have
been isolated.
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"Botanical Source.An erect plant, up to 10 feet (3.1 meters) high; root stock tuberous;
stem sub-woody at the base; Leaves 15–30 × 5.7–7.5 cm sub sessile,
oblong, spirally arranged, silky-pubescent beneath; sheaths coriaceous; flowers
in very dense spikes, many; bracts ovate, mucronate, bright red; corrolla tube
short, lobes ovate-oblong subequal; lip white with yellow center, crisped, concave;
disk with a tuft of hair at the base. Fruits capsule, globosely trigonus, red;
seeds black with white aril. Flowering time is August to October.
Source, History, and Preparation..
Chemical Composition.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.
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ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE USES
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| Dominican Republic |
Diuretic, Kidney |
| Elsewhere |
Antiseptic, Burn, Emmenagogueue, Eye, Liqueur, Parturition, Wound |
| Ghana |
Cough, Dentifrice |
| Haiti |
Burn, Dry-Lip , Rheumatism |
| Japan |
Suppository-Base |
| La |
Coffee, Liqueur |
| Mexico |
Bite(Snake), Wound |
| Panama |
Antiseptic, Eye, Listlessness, Parasiticide, Pregnancy |
| Venezuela |
Alopecia, Pilatory |
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