Curculigo Pilosa: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, Interactions
Uncover the versatile benefits and precautions of Curculigo pilosa, a herb with significant health potential.
Fact Checked
Curculigo pilosa is a perennial plant native to warm African regions, traditionally used for its medicinal properties. It offers a range of potential health benefits including aiding in glucose utilization and insulin production, demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects due to its phenolic and terpenoid content.
However, it may have side effects such as liver and kidney toxicity at high doses and possible interactions with medications like painkillers, diabetes treatments, and blood thinners.
What is Curculigo Pilosa?
Curculigo pilosa is a plant that grows every year and is part of the Hypoxidaceae family. It mainly grows in the warm parts of Africa.
The leaves of this plant stand up straight and are hairy. It grows from a root that is shaped like a cylinder and can get up to 45 cm tall. [1]
You can usually find it near rivers in places where there are mopane and different kinds of trees that lose their leaves. It can grow in places up to 1200 meters high.
This plant grows in many countries in the warm parts of Africa, like Ghana and Zambia, especially in the Northern and Muchinga areas.
People who live in these places have been picking Curculigo pilosa from the wild to use as traditional medicine for a long time.
We don’t have a lot of old stories about how it was used, but we know that the root of the plant is not poisonous, so it was safe for them to use.
Even though Curculigo pilosa is in danger of disappearing, it is still an important plant. It is part of the rich variety of plants in warm areas and could be studied more to learn about how it can be used for medicine and how to protect it.
Curculigo species such as Curculigo pilosa are utilized in traditional medicine across various cultures, highlighting their significance in ethnobotanical practices.
The common name for Curculigo pilosa in Nigeria is often “Stemona Grass” or “Ewuro Alupayida” in Yoruba. Local names vary depending on the region and language. In English, Curculigo pilosa is commonly referred to as “Stemona Grass” or “African Crocus.” In French, it is known as “Curculigo poilu” or “Herbe à crocus d’Afrique.”
Curculigo Pilosa uses and health benefits?
Curculigo pilosa has been traditionally used in African medicine for a variety of ailments, including gastrointestinal diseases, heart conditions, and infertility.
Its rich phytochemical composition, including phenolic glycosides and norlignans, contributes to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
These bioactive compounds may offer valuable health benefits by potentially enhancing the immune system, although further research is needed to validate these effects and assess any potential toxicity.
1. Traditional Medicinal Uses
In traditional medicine, especially in African cultures, a plant called Curculigo pilosa is used to treat many health problems. This herb helps with stomach issues, infertility, blood diseases, coughs, diabetes, and infections in private parts. [2]
It’s known for making the digestive system feel better and helping with fertility problems, showing it can be used for many kinds of treatments.
Ethnopharmacological studies reveal its significance in managing a broad spectrum of diseases.
Curculigo pilosa can also help fight serious diseases, as it can help the body adapt, fight cancer, and work against damage from chemotherapy.
The natural parts of this plant make it useful for treating different health conditions, and it keeps being used and studied to help make new medicines.
Using this herb in traditional medicine shows it can improve health in many ways. Antioxidant properties of Curculigo pilosa enhance its therapeutic potential, contributing further to its medicinal value.
2. Anti-inflammatory Effects
Curculigo pilosa is more than just a healthy plant; it has important properties that can help reduce inflammation and improve health.The Curculigo family, which includes C. pilosa, contains natural substances like phenols and terpenoids that are known to lower inflammation.
One of these substances, called curculigoside, is particularly effective at fighting inflammation and reducing oxidative stress, which can harm the body. [3]
For many years, people have used plants from the Curculigo family in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as arthritis and asthma, indicating their belief in the plants’ ability to address inflammation-related problems.
Recent research has shown that Curculigo pilosa can significantly lower blood sugar levels, which is helpful for managing diabetes. [4].
The way these plants function—by eliminating harmful free radicals and inhibiting certain enzymes—suggests that Curculigo pilosa could be beneficial for treating chronic diseases linked to inflammation. [5]
Further research could help us understand how Curculigo pilosa reduces inflammation, potentially leading to new natural treatments for inflammatory conditions. [6]
3. Antioxidant Properties
Curculigo pilosa is a plant known for its strong antioxidant properties, which makes it beneficial for health and medicine.
Researchers have tested this plant using methods like DPPH, FRAP, and phosphomolybdenum, and found that it shows high antioxidant activity.
The extracts from this plant can effectively eliminate harmful radicals, performing as well as or even better than well-known antioxidants such as rutin and BHT. [7] [8]
Additionally, the ethanol extract of Curculigo pilosa can reduce nitric oxide radicals, although it is not as effective as catechin.
Overall, the total antioxidant power of Curculigo pilosa is greater than that of rutin and BHT, highlighting its potent antioxidant abilities.
These benefits are largely due to the plant’s rich content of phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin compounds. Its pharmacological activities include anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects, which expand its uses in medicine. [9] [10]
The antioxidants found in Curculigo pilosa help protect against oxidative stress, a condition linked to chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, and heart disorders.
Studies have shown that extracts from this plant may improve glucose uptake and insulin secretion in diabetic rat models, suggesting potential benefits for diabetes management. [11] [12]
Moreover, Curculigo pilosa may help prevent osteoporosis by regulating the growth and development of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Its antioxidant activity can protect against oxidative damage caused by high blood sugar levels and enhance the body’s antioxidant system. The phytochemicals in this plant can neutralize free radicals, contributing to a wide range of health benefits. [13] [14]
4. Boosting the Immune System
Curculigo pilosa is a plant that helps protect the body and supports the immune system. It contains special sugars called phenolic glycosides, which help activate important immune cells like macrophages and lymphocytes. [16]
The underground stem of a related plant, Curculigo latifolia, has shown it can fight viruses like the one causing hepatitis B, but only in lab tests so far. [17]
Curculigo pilosa extracts can also stop the growth of various germs, including harmful bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, helping to fight off infections. [18] [19]
Curculigo orchioides, another related plant, has been used to support the immune system, showing the benefits of these plants in immune health. [17]
These plants contain natural chemicals like norlignans, triterpenoids, phenolic glycosides, and curculigoside, which help protect against infections. They are used in traditional medicine to treat stomach and heart problems and fight diseases caused by bad bacteria. [17]
In traditional Chinese medicine, Curculigo orchioides is also used to help with impotence and sexual dysfunctions. [20]
5. Potential Anti-cancer Properties
Studies have shown that the Curculigo pilosa plant has been traditionally used to treat tumors and cancer, suggesting it might have cancer-fighting properties.
This plant and others in its family, like Curculigo orchioides, contain special compounds such as phenols, phenolic glycosides, and terpenoids, known for their health benefits, including fighting cancer . [21]
The leaves of Curculigo orchioides are known to have cancer-fighting properties in traditional Unani medicine, and local plants like Curculigo pilosa are traditionally used to treat leukemia and other diseases. [22].
These plants fight cancer thanks to the natural chemicals they contain, which protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation. Extracts from these plants show many health benefits, including fighting cancer. They are strong antioxidants, meaning they protect against damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals, helping to prevent chronic diseases by keeping cells and tissues safe. [23]
Traditional medicine often mixes Curculigo plants with other herbs to enhance their effectiveness, suggesting that combining them strengthens their cancer-fighting properties. This approach highlights the importance of traditional knowledge in medicine and how Curculigo plants could be used to develop cancer treatments. [24]
However, more research is needed to fully understand how these combinations work and to confirm the use of these plants in cancer treatments.
You might also want to check our article on fruits and vegetables that can kill cancer cells.
6. Digestive Health Benefits
Improving how our body breaks down food, also known as digestive health, is key to feeling good overall. There’s a plant called Curculigo pilosa that’s really good for this.
The root part of this plant has a lot of fiber (about 34.76%), which helps control how our body absorbs cholesterol and slows down how fast our body turns starch into sugar. [25]
This is really good for keeping our digestive system healthy. It also doesn’t raise blood sugar levels too much, which is great for people watching their sugar intake. [26]
Another cool thing about Curculigo pilosa is that it can help with diabetes. It does this by helping our body use glucose better and by making more insulin. [27]
The plant also has things in it that act like antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. These are like shields that protect our stomach and intestines from getting sick. [28]
Plus, the plant has important stuff like iron, magnesium, and calcium, which are good for our overall health and make it even better for our digestive system. [29]
7. Skin Health Improvements
Curculigo pilosa is a plant that can help improve the health of your skin. It has many special compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are great antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they fight against things that can damage your skin, like stress and aging. [30]
The plant also has flavonoids, which help protect your skin from getting worse by stopping harmful free radicals. [31]
Curculigo pilosa is very high in something called polyphenols, which are really good at making your skin healthier by getting rid of bad stuff. 3. The plant is also good at reducing swelling, which can be bad for your skin. [32] [33]
Even though there haven’t been many studies on how Curculigo pilosa directly helps the skin, it shows a lot of promise for being used in products to make the skin healthier and look better. [34]
But, more research is needed to make sure it works well and is safe for everyone to use.
8. Cardiovascular Health Support
Another benefit of Curculigo pilosa is its potential to support heart health. This plant contains important natural substances that may help protect the heart in various ways. In studies with diabetic rats, a treatment made from Curculigo pilosa helped reduce signs of heart stress and improved fat levels in the blood, suggesting it could help prevent heart disease. [35][36]
Additionally, this plant acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps remove harmful substances from the body. This is crucial for heart health because these harmful substances can damage the heart over time. [37][38]
Curculigo pilosa may also positively influence blood vessels, which could assist in managing blood pressure. [39]
Furthermore, it is high in fiber, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. [40]
These benefits, backed by both traditional knowledge and scientific studies, suggest that Curculigo pilosa could be a natural way to support heart health.
Nutritional Properties
The nutritional properties of Curculigo pilosa shows that it is full of important nutrients and natural chemicals that are good for you.
The underground stem, or rhizome, of this plant is especially full of rough fiber (34.76%) and sugars (34.09%), giving it a high energy value of 188.77 Kcal/100 g.
It also has a fair amount of basic protein (11.01%) and not much fat at all (0.93%), making it a healthy food that’s low in fat.
Looking at the minerals in Curculigo pilosa, iron is the most common one, with 36.14 µg/g, and then comes potassium with 5.12 µg/g. Having these minerals, along with calcium, magnesium, and zinc, means the plant can help with many things your body does, like keeping your bones strong and helping with how your body uses food and energy.
The plant also has a lot of natural chemicals like phenols (65.17 mg/g), flavonoids (23.17 mg/g), and proanthocyanidins (4.23 mg/g), which are all antioxidants.
These chemicals can protect against damage from oxidation, which is linked to long-term health problems. This means Curculigo pilosa might help keep you healthy overall. Traditional medicine has utilized these properties for managing conditions such as diabetes and inflammation.
Here’s a table summarizing the nutrition facts for Curculigo pilosa:
| Nutrient/Component | Amount per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Energy | 188.77 Kcal |
| Fiber (Rough) | 34.76% |
| Sugar | 34.09% |
| Protein | 11.01% |
| Fat | 0.93% |
| Iron | 36.14 µg/g |
| Potassium | 5.12 µg/g |
| Calcium | Present (unspecified) |
| Magnesium | Present (unspecified) |
| Zinc | Present (unspecified) |
| Phenols | 65.17 mg/g |
| Flavonoids | 23.17 mg/g |
| Proanthocyanidins | 4.23 mg/g |
Curculigo Pilosa side effects?
Although Curculigo pilosa has many possible health benefits, it also has some side effects to watch out for. Taking too much of this herb might make kidney problems worse in people who already have kidney issues.
It could also lead to liver problems, even though it usually protects the liver. Using a lot of Curculigo pilosa or using it for a long time might cause stress on the body’s metabolism and could mess up the balance of important minerals in the body due to breaking down of tissues.
If you use this herb for too long or in high doses, it might harm your kidneys, similar to what happens in a sudden kidney injury. The bad effects of Curculigo pilosa depend on how much you take, and different people might react differently to it.
The quality of the herb is also important – lower quality might mean more side effects. Some people might also be allergic to it, getting rashes on the skin or having trouble breathing.
We don’t know a lot about the effects of using this herb for a very long time, so it’s better to be careful, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Can Curculigo Pilosa interact with other medications or supplements?
It’s important to know how Curculigo pilosa might interact with other medicines and supplements. This herb could change how your body processes some medications, making them stronger.
If you take it with painkillers or fever reducers, it might harm your liver or kidneys more because they work together. If you have diabetes, it could affect your diabetes medicines.
It might also change how blood thinners work, but we need more research on this. Curculigo pilosa could affect how kidney medicines work, either making them stronger or weaker.
If you take it with water pills from plants, it might mess up the balance of salts in your blood by making you pee more.
This herb might act like estrogen and change how other plants with similar effects work, which could affect your hormones.
How to Consume it?
This herb, curculigo pilosa, can be used in many different ways. You can drink it as tea, made from the dried or fresh parts of the plant. It can also be turned into a strong liquid form, known as tinctures, using alcohol.
Another option is to turn it into a powder and put it into capsules, making it easy to take exact amounts. For use on the skin, it can be mixed into oils or creams.
However, there isn’t a lot of scientific information on how much of this herb should be used. The amount often relies on traditional practices, which vary. It’s important to talk to a healthcare professional for advice tailored to you.
Safety is a big concern. Too much of this herb might be toxic, and it could cause allergic reactions. It’s also not clear if it’s safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Because of these concerns, it’s crucial to get this herb from trustworthy sources to make sure it’s safe and effective.
Where can you buy Curculigo Pilosa?
When looking to buy Curculigo Pilosa, you have several choices based on where you live and what you want to use the plant for. You might find it in stores that sell special herbs or on websites like Etsy, where people who grow the plant locally might sell it. If you’re in Africa, you could find it in traditional markets.
Also, some companies that focus on plants used by different cultures or buying directly from local farmers who grow it could be options. For those wanting the actual plant, places that sell tropical or herbal plants or online shops that sell plants or seeds might have it.
Local gardens that have many types of plants could also help you get the plant or seeds. It’s important to know the rules about bringing plants in from other countries or taking them out, local laws, and the plant’s conservation status, as these can affect whether you can get it and what papers you need to grow it or have it.
Make sure the plant is what it says it is and is good quality, look for certifications that show the seller is trustworthy, try to buy from places that care about the environment, and know that prices can vary when buying Curculigo pilosa.
Final Take
Curculigo pilosa is a plant that has been used in traditional African medicine to treat various health problems, such as stomach issues, heart diseases, infertility, leukemia, coughs, diabetes, and genital infections.
It contains important minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium, as well as special plant chemicals including curculigoside, crassifoside I, nyasicoside, and curculigine, which contribute to its medicinal properties.
Although it has been used traditionally, not much is known about the safety of Curculigo pilosa, especially its side effects and how it might interact with other medicines or herbal remedies.
Some plants in the Curculigo family can cause liver and kidney damage if taken in large amounts, but more research is needed to understand if Curculigo pilosa has similar risks.
Because it contains active plant chemicals, it could potentially interact with other drugs, so more studies are needed to figure out these interactions.
ℹ️ FoodNourish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission without any surcharge to you.
