Names:

  • General: Bush cane, ginger lily, spiral ginger 
  • Hausa: Kakizawa, Dodon kodi
  • Ibibio: ḿbírítém 
  • Igbo: Opete; okpete; Ejula
  • Yoruba: Irekeomede;Tete-egun

Description:

Okpete is a perennial, rhizomatous plant that belongs to the family Costaceae. It is an unbranched, and has a creeping rhizome. It is commonly found in humid forests and riverside and can grow up to 4m tall. Its leaves are simple, arranged spirally, with blade that are elliptical to obovate, tubular, leathery, glabrous and rounded base that has short hairs. The sheath is lobular, closed, and green with purple blotches. The margin is sparsely hairy with a bisexual and zygomorphic flower. Its inflorescence is highly compact, terminal, conical spike of about 2.5 cm to 7.5 cm long with thick keel which is ridged, pale green with pink markings and thin pink papery margin. The flowers are bisexual, and zygomorphic, with triangular margin pink. The fruit is ellipsoid, capsular, loculicidal dehiscing and about 1 cm long with many seeds.

Cultivation/Propagation

  • Bulbils that develop on enlarged fruits can be planted or potted to propagate.
  • Okpete can be propagated by seed, stem cuttings or rhizome.

Medicinal Benefits

  • The stem, seeds and rhizome contain several steroidal sapogenins, of which diosgenin is the most important one. The rhizome yields 0.5% diosgenin. Diosgenin is a raw material used as a precursor in the synthesis of a number of steroidal drugs, including corticosteroids, sex hormones, oral contraceptives and anabolic agents.
  • It possesses antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic, analgesic, Antiparasitic, antibacterial, antihyperglycemic, hepatocellular protective, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, testicular protective, CNS depressant, analgesic, antinociceptive, antibacterial, diuretic, aphrodisiac, and antioxidant properties. 
  • A papaverine-like alkaloid is found in the rhizome which causes relaxation of smooth muscles and is anti-spasmodic, diuretic and central nervous system depressant.
  • It is used in the treatment of:
    • Digestive problems, gastrointestinal gas, dysentery, constipation, cholera
    • Diabetes mellitus, stomach ache, arthritis, inflammation, and gout.
      • Bad breath and prevention of tooth decay.
    • Worm (nematode) infections, nausea.
    • Malaria, and rheumatism.
    • Abscesses, and ulcers.
    • Asthma, and Cough.
  • Protects the pancreas; improves digestion; prevents and treats steatosis; and enhances liver function.
  • The roots mashed to a thick paste are applied topically to abscesses and ulcers.
  • The sap is used for healing open wounds; eye-affections; headache.
  • It is a diuretic and treatment of urethral discharge.
  • The root is boiled to a pap and taken for syphilis.
  • Protects against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Decoction is taken for leprosy and gonorrhea.
  • Cures acne when rubbed on the face.
  • Combats oxidative stress.

Other Benefits:

  • It is in some cultures placed on a cultivated field, or path, or entrance to a house for protection, and planted in sacred groves.
  • Its smell is regarded as inimical to ghosts and evil influences, and it is offered to a spirit occupying a tree.
  • The outer layer of the stems is used in making table mats, kola baskets, and house construction.
  • The sap can be used to coagulate latex and is also used in skin nourishing creams.
  • It is valued as a paper material for making good quality brown and white papers.
  • Stems are used for cleaning school slates.
  • The oil serves as a flavoring component.
  • It is used in foods and beverages.
  • It is used in religious ceremonies.

How it is Used:

  • The pulp of the rhizome is applied to abscesses and ulcers to mature and heal them; it is applied to teeth to cure toothache; and mixed with water and taken orally for the treatment of diarrhoea and amoebic dysentery.
  • The leaves are boiled with the leaves of carica papaya (pawpaw), citrus species (orange) and bark of Mangifera indica (mango) for the treatment of cough, measles and malaria 
  • The stem juice is applied externally to treat a range of skin ailments; urethral discharges and venereal diseases. It is also rubbed on the body to treat colic.
  • The leaf and stem are boiled together with the leaf and bark of Alchornea cordiflora (Ububo) is used for the treatment of hunch back and malaria
  • The infusion of the inflorescence is taken to treat tachycardia. The same infusion or a rhizome infusion is taken to treat stomach complaints.
  • The succulent stem is chewed to quench thirst and also to treat cough and its accompanying sore throat.
  • The leaf sap is used as eye drops to treat eye troubles and as nose drops to treat headache with vertigo.
  • The stem decoction is used for the treatment of cough, respiratory problems and sore throat.
  • The rhizome decoction or the raw rhizome is taken to treat leprosy and venereal diseases.
  • The powdered stems are used as an enema to treat worms and haemorrhoids.
  • The infusion of the inflorescence is taken to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
  • The cold-water extract of the stem is taken to treat small epileptic attacks.
  • The infusion of the inflorescence is taken to treat stomach complaints.
  • The juice is used as an instillation for eye inflammation and defects.
  • The infusion of the dried aerial parts is taken to treat hypertension.
  • The decoction of the powdered fruits is used as a cough medicine.
  • The root is used for treating worm (nematode) infections.
  • The smoke of the dried stem is inhaled to treat coughs.
  • The dried aerial part is used to treat hypertension.
  • The stem sap is used to treat jaundice. 

Reported Side Effects/Caution:

  • It should be avoided in pregnancy because of the abortifacient property.

References: