Crepe Ginger

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Java, Malaya, Europe, CR, CU, NU, PF, TO

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alopecia, Cough, Depurative, Dysentery

Science studied: CORTICOSIDE-I, CORTICOSIDE-J, CURCUMINOIDS, CURCUMIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Costaceae

Scientific name: Costus speciosus

Common names: Crepe Ginger, Wild Ginger, Cane Reed, canereed

History

The source record documents this plant in Java, Malaya, Elsewhere, Europe, CR, CU, NU, PF and 1 additional place.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alopecia
• Cough
• Depurative
• Dysentery
• Leprosy
• Ophthalmia
• Purgative
• Vermifuge

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Java
• Malaya
• Elsewhere
• Europe
• CR
• CU
• NU
• PF
• TO

Documented cultural uses

• Alopecia
• Cough
• Depurative
• Dysentery
• Leprosy
• Ophthalmia
• Purgative
• Vermifuge
• Carcinoma(Mouth)
• Fever
• Smallpox
• Syphilis

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• The fortunate amelioration of Costus speciosus on phenotypes of letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in female rats. · 2026 source ↗
• GC–MS Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Costus speciosus Rhizomes: Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Action against MDR and XDR Bacteria with Anticancer Potential · 2026 source ↗
• Bulbil formation in stress: Crucial role of triploid fitness in mixed ploidy dynamics in Costus speciosus · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• CORTICOSIDE-I
• CORTICOSIDE-J
• CURCUMINOIDS
• CURCUMIN
• DISOCIN
• DIOSGENIN
• GRACILLIN
• MUCILAGE
• 14-OXO-HEPTACOSANOIC-ACID
• 15-OXO-OCTACOSANOIC-ACID
• 14-OXO-TRICHOSANOIC-ACID
• BETA-SITOSTEROL
• BETA-SITOSTEROL-GLUCOSIDE
• 5-ALPHA-STIGMAST-9(11)-EN-3-BETA-OL
• STARCH
• STEROID SAPONINS

Legality

Country-specific legal status is not documented in this record.

Consult the CITES species checklist for international trade protections and listings. This is not a complete statement of local law.

Reference images

Sources

Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases · CC0

GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

No published revisions are documented for this record. Community submissions enter review and retain attribution before any published change.