Costus afer Ker Gawl (Costaceae): A Review on Its Medicinal uses with Focus on Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Jean-Paul Nzambi Divengi
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rhumatology Unite, Internal Medicine Department of General, Hospital of Kinshasa Mama Yemo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacology Vigilance, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Assumani Zabo Idrissa
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dorah Mwenyi Kabasele
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Patience Lunkondo Mbuyi
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Innocent Shongo Walle
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Victorine Mbo Lesse
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Randy Isaya Kiala
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Philipe Sansi Nzinga
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Richard Mananga Bongo
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
John Za nza Ntezolo
Research Unity of Pedagogy and Health, Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Florent Biduaya Mukeba *
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National Pedagogical University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Benjamin Mbenza Longo
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacology Vigilance, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Paulin Kapepula Mutwale
Centre d’Etudes Des Substances Naturelles d’Origine Végétale (CESNOV), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gauthier Kahungu Mesia
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacology Vigilance, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gaston Lutete Tona
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacology Vigilance, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
More than 80% of the population in Africa by the World Health Organization (WHO) leans on endogenous knowledge to solve their primary health care problems. In this study, we examined the relevance of Costus afer Ker Gawl, a plant called ginger lily, spiral ginger or bush cane. It is believed to be used in traditional medicine practice (TMP) to treat and manage many conditions including diabetes mellitus, stomach ailments, arthritis, inflammation. These alleged traditional incited large researchers to conduct studies on the plant to amass scientific evidence. However, these results are sparse, and thus, an inventory through the present search using online search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus and Chemical Abstracts for the period from 1990 to 2021; provides a bibliographic actualization on the plant, taking into account its traditional uses, phytochemical and nutritional constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicological effects. The online search included the use of the keywords, "Costus afer Ker-Gawl" or "Costus afer". It should be noted that the stem and leaves of the plant contain consistent amounts of micronutrients and macronutrients. The leaves, stem, rhizomes of C. afer contain several steroidal sapogenins, aferosides, dioscin and paryphyllin C and a flavonoid glycoside, kaempferol-3-O- \(\alpha\)-L-rhamnopyranoside. Experimental studies on various parts of the plant have shown biological activities such as anti-hyperglycemic, hepatocellular protection, cardioprotection, nephroprotection, CNS depressant, analgesic, antiarthritis, antibacterial and antioxidant. This wide range of biological properties of Costus afer Ker Gawl would be largely attributed to the essential oil compounds such as Sabinene, \(\beta\) -pinene and \(\beta\) -caryophyllene which are among the major compounds of this plant. Based on these obvious data, it is concluded that the plant could be used as an alternative and complementary therapy for many diseases related to oxidative stress so will guide us future research on the use of Costus afer Ker Gawl as an anti-inflammatory.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, diosgenin, costus afer Ker gawl, anti-spasmodic activity, phytomedicine