Literary Review on Kebuka [Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm.]

Pavel Peresypkin; Aditi Gandhi; Prasanna Narasimha Rao

Literary Review on Kebuka [Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm.]

Peresypkin P.¹, Gandhi A.^2*, Rao P.³

DOI:

¹ Pavel Peresypkin, Final Year BAMS, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

^2* Aditi Gandhi, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Dravyaguna, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

³ Prasanna Narasimha Rao, Principal and Chief Medical Officer, Department of Dravyaguna, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

Introduction: The plant Kebuka a is a perennial herb used in Indian systems of medicine and is widely used in folklore medical practice throughout the world. Kebuka (Costus speciosus (J.König) Sm.) belonging to the family Costaceae, is one among the plants described under Shaka Varga (Group of vegetables), a sub-group of Ahara varga (Group of eatables) as mentioned in classical treatises of Ayurveda. Aim: To obtain a comprehensive review on Kebuka (as a medicinal plant) from Ayurvedic scriptures and Ethnomedicinal use of the plant. Results: Various names have been attributed to it in the classics. The single use of the drug and its use in compound formulations is mentioned in Brhattrayi and Nighantus of Ayurveda. The drug shows wide application under ethnomedicinal practices. Conclusion: Through the review, the medicinal aspects of the drug were understood as mentioned in Ayurveda classics and from ethnomedicinal uses. Since the drug is widely distributed and easily available in the most parts of Indian subcontinent, further pre-clinical and clinical research on the drug is required to establish the therapeutic efficiency and it’s mechanism of action in various disorders.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Kebuka, Costus speciosus, Spiral flag, Ethnomedicine

Corresponding Author	How to Cite this Article	To Browse
Aditi Gandhi, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Dravyaguna, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India. Email:	Pavel Peresypkin, Aditi Gandhi, Prasanna Narasimha Rao, Literary Review on Kebuka [Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm.]. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2022;7(3):95-100. Available From https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/1783

Introduction

Medicinal plants have always been of a great importance to the health care sector, for the needs of an individual. The healing powers of traditional herbal medicines have been realized since antiquities. About 65% of the world population has access to local medicinal plant knowledge system. India is sitting on a gold mine of well-recorded and traditionally well practiced knowledge of herbal medicine. India has an officially recorded list of 45,000 plant species and estimation put the list of 7500 species of medicinal plants growing in its 16 agroclimatic zones under 63.7 million hectares of forest coverage.^[1] With an ever-increasing global inclination towards herbal medicine, there is a high demand for a huge raw material of medicinal plants. Medicinal herbs are moving from fringe to mainstream use with a greater number of people seeking remedies and health approaches free from side effects caused by synthetic chemicals.^[2]

Botanical Source: Costus speciosus

Family: Costaceae

Synonyms^[3,4]

Kemuka, Kembuka, Peculā, Pelu, Peluni, Dalashālini, Kebuka, Kevuka, Kesura^[5]

Vernacular names

English	Spiral flag
Hindi	Keu, Keukand, Kemua
Kannada	Kuntige gidda, Kundige gidda, Benne kundige, Arati kundige
Marathi	Penva, Pinnham Kobee
Gujarati	Paskarmula, Valakdi
Telugu	Kashmeeramu, Cengalvakostu
Tamil	Kostam
Malayalam	Channakoova
Bengali	Keu, Keumut
Assamese	Tara
Oriya	Kudho, Chittorokudho

Habitat^[6,7]

The herb is commonly found throughout India up to an altitude of 1200m in moist undergrowth, commonly along roadsides, streams and in wastelands. It is distributed in the Himalayas including Siwalik range, Bihar, Orissa, Uttaranchal, Bengal and in some part of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala etc. Distributed in Indo-Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Malay Islands and China.

Part Used: Root and Rhizome

Morphology^[8]

An erect plant 1.2-2.7 m. high; rootstock tuberous, insipid; stem sub-woody at the base.
Leaves 15-30 by 5.7-7.5 cm., subsessile, spirally arranged, oblong or oblanceolate-oblong, acute or acuminate, often cuspidate, glabrous above, silky-pubescent beneath, base rounded; sheaths coriaceous; ligule 0.

Flowers white, numerous, in very dense spikes 5-12.5 by 3.8-7.5 cm.; bracts 2-3.2 cm. long, ovate, acuminate, often pungently mucronate, bright red; bracteole solitary below the calyx, 16 mm. long.

Calyx 3.2 cm. long; lobes 6 mm. long, deltoid-ovate, cuspidate. Corolla-tube as long as the calyx; lobes ovate-oblong, apiculate, the lateral lobes 3.5 by 1.3 cm., the dorsal 4 by 2 cm. Lip suborbicular, white with a yellow centre, 5 cm. and more in diam., concave, plicate, crisped, the margins sometimes meeting in the middle; disk pubescent and with a tuft of hairs at its base. Stamen 3.8-4.5 cm. long, with a tuft of hairs at the base of the filament; connective petaloid, 13 mm. broad, pubescent, produced into a glabrous appendage as long as the linear anther-cells. Style 3.8 cm. long, slender; stigma with a semilunar ciliate mouth. Capsules globosely 3-gonous, 2 cm. diam., red. Seeds black, with a white aril.

Flowering and Fruiting: July-February.^[6]

Source – ALN Rao Ayurvedic Medical College, Koppa

Microscopic Description^[9]

Root: The young root shows a single layer of epidermis followed by 8 to 9 layers of cortical isodiametric cells. The innermost layer is the endodermis which encloses a single layered pericycle and a polyarch stele. The central part is represented by xylem parenchyma which gradually becomes thick-walled and lignified. The sclerification start from the centre to the periphery. The cork cambium arises in the third layer of the cortex and forms a thin cork cambium of 3 to 5 layers of cells and the epidermis finally gets ruptured. The endodermis becomes thick-walled at the inner tangential and radial walls. Tracheids are absent. The xylem vessels are elliptical to somewhat circular in T.S. and possess reticulate

type of thickening. Some of the vessels have pointed tail like ends. The xylem fibres are slightly thin walled, pointed at both ends, rarely with forked or truncated ends and bear simple pits on their walls. The xylem, parenchyma are rectangular in shape, devoid of pits on their walls.

Rhizome: The T.S. of the young rhizome shows a single layer of epidermis followed by ground parenchyma in which vascular bundles are scattered. The ground parenchyma is filled with starch grains especially in the outer layer and the starch grains do not bear any striations. With the growth of the rhizome a cork cambium arises in the outer cortical layers which cut off 8 to 10 layers of cork cells. There is a distinct endodermis which limits the extent of cortical parenchyma. Within the endodermis the vascular bundles are more closely scattered in the ground parenchyma. The bundles start the formation of fibres which are slightly thickened and bear simple pits on their walls. All the vascular bundles are of the amphicribal type with phloem encircling the xylem strand.

Gana Vargeekarana

Charaka Samhita	Krimighna - Su. 4/15 Tikta Skandha - Vi. 8/143 Shāka Varga - Su. 27/96
Sushruta Samhita	Tikta Shāka Dravya - Su. 46/263
Ashtanga Hrdaya	Tikta Shāka Dravya - Su. 6/79
Ashtanga Sangraha	Tikta Shāka Dravya - Su. 7/105 Krimighna Mahakashaya - Su. 15/20
Bhava Prakash Ni.	Shāka Varga
Kaiyadeva Ni.	Aushadhi Varga
Siddhamantra	Kaphapittaghna Vātala Varga
Rāja Vallabha Ni.	Madhyāhnika paricheda
Shodhala Nighantu	Lakshmanādi Varga
Hrdaya Deepika	Eka nāma varga
Priya Nighantu	Shatapushpadi Varga Shāka Varga
Abhidhana Manjari	Shāka Varga

Rasa Panchaka

	Ch. [10]	Su. [11]	A.H & A.S. [12,13]	B.P. [3]	K.N. [4]	P.V.S. [14]	API [15]
Rasa	Tikta			Tikta, Katu	Tikta, Katu, Madhura	Tikta Kashaya	Tikta
Guna	-	Laghu	-	Laghu		Laghu, Ruksha
Vīrya	Shita	-	Shita
Vipāka	Katu	-	Katu
Doshaghnata	K-P hara	R-P hara	K-P hara V-kara			K-P hara
K=Kapha, P=Pitta, V=Vata, R=Rakta

Prabhava

Garbhāshaya Sankochaka^[14]

Karma/ Action^{[3,4] [12-16]}

Dipana (stomachic), Pāchana (digestive) Rochana (appetizer), Hrdya (cardiotonic), Grāhi (absorbent), Vrishya (aphrodisiac).

Pharmacological action^[6]

Antifertility, abortifacient, ecbolic, oxytocic, estrogenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, anticholinesterase, diuretic, CNS depressant, antiarthritic, hypotensive, cardiotonic, hypoglycemic, spasmolytic, bradycardiac.

Rogaghnata/ Indications^{[3,4] [10-15]}

Swāsa (asthma), Kāsa (cough), Arochaka (anorexia), Prameha (diabetes), Kushtha (skin diseases), Jwara (fever), Rakta vikāra (blood disorders), Rakta pitta (bleeding), Bhrama (giddiness), Krimi (helminthiasis), Shlipada (filariasis).

Formulation

Yoga	Use/ Reference
Saptacchadādi Yavāgu/ Kwātha	Kaphaja Mutrakrchra (Ch.Chi.26/57, A.H.Chi.11/12, A.S.Chi.13)
Vyoshādi Saktu	Santarpana vikara (Ch.Su.23/20, A. H.Su.14/25, A.S.Su.24/43)
Krimighna Kashāya	Krimi (Ch. Su. 4/15) (A.S.Su.15/20)
Ayaskriti	Kushtha, Prameha, Sthoulya, Shopha (Su.Chi.10/12, A.S.Chi.21)
Kulathādi Ghritha	Jeerna Jwara (A.S.Chi.2/15)
Khadirādi Vati	Sarva Mukharoga (Su.Ut.26/54)
Shatāvaryādi Uttara Basti	Mutraghāta (Su.Chi.13/16)

Posology^[17]

Juice: 10-20ml

Powder: 3-6gm

Amayika Prayoga

1. Shlipada (Filariasis): Kebuka Kanda Niryasa (exudate) mixed with Vida Lavana and Putikaranja or Putranjiva Swarasa is consumed. (Su.Chi.19/62)

2. Krimi (Intestinal worms): Kebuka Swarasa (juice) with honey is taken. (Su.Ut.54/25, A.H.Chi.20/26, S.Chi.22/28)

Ethnomedicinal use^[18,19,20]

The rhizomes are rich in starch and fibre, but are cooked and eaten. They are cooked into a syrup or a preserve which is considered wholesome, and fairly nutritious. They are sometimes substituted for ginger, though not as good. The boiled rhizomes are mucilaginous. The rhizomes are feebly astringent and considered tonic, anthelmintic, abortifacient, depurative and aphrodisiac. They are given in cold, cough, pneumonia, stomach troubles, rheumatism, dropsy, urinary diseases, and are used as antivermin and maggoticide. The juice of fresh rhizome is purgative; mixed with Acorus calamus Linn. it is applied in leprosy.

In Meghalaya, the decoction of rhizomes and those of Cyperus rotundus Linn. and the bark of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. is given in jaundice. The tender shoots, when boiled in milk, make a good vegetable; they are given as fodder. They can be mixed with other fodders, and can be fed fresh, ensiled and as hay. The leaves along with those of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi and coconut scrapings are ground and boiled and given in mental disorders. The dried stem and leaves are employed in preparing an apong or a rice-beer in Assam. The bruised leaves are applied in fevers. A decoction of the stem is used in fever. Its juice is given in dysentery and that of tender shoots is squeezed into eyes for eye diseases. Root is useful in catarrhal fevers, coughs, dyspepsia, worms, skin diseases, and snake bites.

Tuber is cooked and made into a syrup or preserve which is very wholesome. The plant is used in fever, dropsy, cholera, phthisis. puerperal fever, bite of rabid jackal or dog; snake bite; skin diseases, diabetes; bronchitis and asthma; tuberculosis, blood purification, headache; astringent, purgative, tonic; anthelmintic and stimulant. Plant juice is used in earache. Plant and rhizome are used to cure filariasis. The leaves are used in scabies and on wounds; in mumps, fever; cough, asthma and for hair growth. The stem in used in burning sensation on urination; earache; pus formation, as maggoticide; on wounds; as germicide and for toothache. Stem juice is applied on blisters; scalp to cure redness of the eye due to traumatic affliction; on wounds and in eye troubles. Bark is used to treat jaundice. Bark and leaf are used against cholera and in stomach disorders. The tuber is used in piles, fever;

indigestion; viral hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis; cold and cough; high fever and severe headache; digestive troubles, constipation; dysentery; as abortifacient and for sterilization. Tuber and stem are given to cure urinary tract infection. The rhizome is used to treat blood in urine; rheumatic pain, as anti-vermin; for abortion; delirium, nausea and vomiting tendency during labour; to expel intestinal worms; in burning acidity; headache; leprosy; muscle cramp and muscle pain; chicken pox, bone disorders, digestion; snake bite; pus formation in ear; Parkinson's disease; skin diseases; asthma; fever; constipation, dropsy; earache; leukaemia; dysentery; strangury; dyspepsia; scabies, itches, stomach trouble; urinary troubles and to dissolve stones; in rheumatoid arthritis; bone pain; uterine diseases; bronchitis, inflammation, anaemia; filariasis; leucorrhoea; backache; cough; as tonic; astringent, purgative, depurative, stimulant, anthelmintic; lactagogue; hair tonic; on boils; as an antidote for dog bite and has female sexual stimulant property.

Rhizome juice is used in leprosy; jaundice and filariasis. The root is used in asthma and to check pus formation in earache; in helminthiasis, as aphrodisiac; tonic; purgative; anthelmintic; astringent; in catarrhal fever. cough, dyspepsia, worms, skin diseases; urinary troubles; rheumatism; tonsillitis; snake bite; on wounds; cuts; in cold; fever; skin diseases; jaundice, red urine disease and body pain.

Adulterant and Substitute^[6,9]

Mostly the rhizome pieces are found adulterated with stem pieces of same plant in market.
Used as an adulterant of Langali (Gloriosa superba). Kebuka is considered as source plant for Kushtha – Saussurea lappa (English - Costus root) in South India.^[21]

Toxicity

A study was carried out to study the sub-acute toxicity of the ethanolic extract of Costus speciosus in male mice. The research result showed that the administration of CSE at 275-1100 mg/kg/day for 90 d did not show any significant disturbance in all parameters, except for reductions of cholesterol and blood glucose levels of test animals (p<0.05).

Thus, indicating the safety of Ethanolic extract of Costus speciosus as a candidate if standardized herbal medicine for male contraception.^[22]

Result and Discussion

Thorough study and investigation of the drug Kebuka - Costus speciosus from the available literature – classical texts of Brihattrayi and 8 Ayurveda Nighantus, shows that classical texts of Ayruveda the plant is mentioned under 10 various synonyms out of which Kebuka, Kemuka and Kembuka are the most frequent. The plant serves as an important source for its therapeutic use and has wide application both in Ayurveda and ethnomedicinal practice. It’s therapeutic application is mostly found in disorders such as Krimi (worm infestation), Shlipada (filariasis) and Jwara (fever) as well as in Kāsa (cough), Shwāsa (asthma), Kushtha (skin diseases), Mutrakricchra (urinary tract diseases), Santarpana vikaras (diseases due to over nourishment) and other disorders with primary involvement of Kapha dosha. It’s therapeutic efficacy in the above disorders could be explained through it’s Tikta (bitter) and Katu (pungent) Rasa (taste), Sheeta (cold) Virya (potency), Laghu (light) and Ruksha (drying) Gunas (properties). Since the drug is Garbhāshaya Sankochaka (abortifacient) it’s usage should be avoided in pregnant, women suffering from infertility and menorrhagia.

Due to it’s potent anthelmintic and purgative properties the drug could be considered as a drug of choice particularly for Kirmi Roga Chikitsa (treatment of worm infestations).

Conclusion

Current era of globalization of Ayurveda and growth of market of Ayurvedic drugs put newer challenges to the Ayurveda community and Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers, one of the most important is shortage of authentic raw drug materials. One of the solutions for this problem is to draw attention of Ayurveda researchers, practitioners and drug manufacturers to the less known and used, but authentic ayurvedic drugs which have no controversy in it’s botanical identification, widely mentioned in classical texts and are easily available throughout Indian subcontinent. The drug Kebuka, botanically identified as Costus speciosus, is a perennial herb which is commonly found throughout India. Root and Rhizome are the therapeutically useful parts of the plant. The therapeutic efficacy of the plant is evident from both the classical texts of Ayurveda as well as from the wide spectrum

of it’s application in folklore medicinal practice. Since the drug Kebuka has no controversy in it’s identification and is widely available throughout the country it deserves more attention from ayurvedic community in the form of pre-clinical and clinical research on the drug to establish it’s safety dosage, therapeutic efficiency and mechanism of action and further wider implementation in clinical practice.

Reference

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3. Chunekar KC. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu of Bhava Mishra. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharti Academy. Chapter Shaka Varga: Verse 110; 2015, p687.

4. Sharma PV. Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Aushadhi Varga: Verse 1607. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia. 2019, p643.

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14. Sharma PV. Dravyaguna Vijnana. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy. Vol 2, 2018, p:605.

15. AYUSH. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Vol 5, 1st ed; New Delhi. 2006, p:74.

16. e-Nighantu, Raj Vallabha Nighantu, https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/rajavallabhanighantu/?mod=read

17. Sharma PV. Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Visvabharati. 2018, p:113.

18. CSIR. The Wealth of India. First Supplement Series, Vol 2, New Delhi. 2001, p:210.

19. Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd. Vol 1, 3rd ed, 2019, p:385.

20. ICMR. Reviews on India Medicinal Plants. Vol 7, New Delhi. 2008, p:68.

21. Chunekar KC. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu of Bhava Mishra; Chapter Haritakyadi Varga. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharti Academy. 2015, p:9.

22. Ika Puspita Sari, Arief Nurrochmad. Sub-acute toxicity study of an ethanolic extract of pacing (Costus speciosus) in male mice. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2016;8(12):97-10.

Manuscript Received	Review Round 1	Review Round 2	Review Round 3	Accepted
2022-03-01	2022-03-03	2022-03-10	2022-03-17	2022-03-24
Conflict of Interest	Funding	Ethical Approval	Plagiarism X-checker	Note
Nil	Nil	Yes	16%

Review Article

Kebuka

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences