6.

Costaceae is one of the most easily recognizable groups within the Zingiberales, distinguished from other families within the order by well-developed and sometimes branched aerial shoots that have a characteristic monistichous (one-sided) spiral phyllotaxy (e.g., Kirchoff & Rutishauser, 1990). Its close relationship with Zingiberaceae is evidenced by its former placement as a subfamily within t...

Abstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) causes environmental pollution and is used as a natural antioxidant to protect against chemical side-effects. Costus well-known medicinal plant containing several biologically active compounds. We investigated the protective effects of costus extract toxic BPA in rat testes. Results Biochemical immunohistochemical investigations revealed that bisphenol redu...

Ji?Cinnamon 5xiv, Myrrh (Balsamodendron) 5xi, Agaric, Spikenard (Nardus Indicus), Ginger, Saffron, Seeds of treacle Mustard (Thlaspi Arvense) or Mitliridate Mustard (Lepidium Campestre), Frankincense (Resin of Abies Excelsa), Chio Turpentine (Resin of Pistacia Terebinthus) of each 5x. Camel's Hay (Juncus Odoratus), Costus (Costus Arabicus or Auklandia Costus or Aplotaxis Auriculata) or Zedoary ...

A new species of spiral ginger (Costus: Costaceae) from Gabon, Africa is described. Costus loangensis H. Maas & Maas is found in the coastal region on white sand soils under a tropical rain forest canopy. It is morphologically distinct from all other African species of Costus but shows some similarities in floral form with the savanna-inhabiting Costus spectabilis (Fenzl) K. Schum. and similari...

An intersectional hybridization event between hummingbird-pollinated Costus pulverulentus (sect. Ornithophilus) and large bee-pollinated C. guanaiensis var. macrostrobilus (sect. Costus) in Belize, Central America, is documented by analyses of morphology and pollination biology. Morphologically the hybrid is intermediate between the parental species and retains floral characteristics adaptive t...

Powdered leaves (500 mg/kg body weight) of medicinal plants M. indica and C. igneus known to possess therapeutic effect were supplemented to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Leaf powders of both the plants were able to reduce blood glucose levels in the animals by 38 and 21% respectively after 15 days of supplementation. The preliminary results suggest that both the plants possess potent h...

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipschitz, syn Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke is a well known and important medicinal plant widely used in several indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments, viz. asthma, inflammatory diseases, ulcer and stomach problems. Sesquiterpene lactones have been reported as the major phytoconstituents of this species. Different pharmacological experiment...

The aim of this research was to investigate antidiabetic activity of Costus igneus (also known as insulin plant) leaves extracts in streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats. A comparison was made between the action of Costus igneus extract and a known antidiabetic drug glibenclamide (5mg/kg body wt.). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed in experimental diabetic rats. Eth...