Table 2.

Ethnomedicinal uses of Costus afer.

Country	Parts used	Reference
Inflammation	Stem	[5, 12]
Arthritis	Leave, stem	[3, 5, 18]
Stomach ache	Leaves	[18]
Cough, sore throat	Stem, aerial parts	[3, 12]
Measles	Leaves	[5]
Malaria	Rhizome	[18]
Chicken pox	Stem	[17]
Influenza	Stem	[17]
Genital herpes	Stem	[17]
Fodder	Leaves, stem	[5]
Purgative	Rhizome	[5]
Laxative	Rhizome	[5]
Diabetes mellitus	Stem, leaves, rhizome	[12]
Wound healing	Leaves	[18]
Diuretic	Stem	[5, 12]
Aperient	Stem	[19]
Jaundice	Leaves	[18]
Fever	Leaves	[18]
Leprosy	Rhizome	[5]
Gastric ulcer	Rhizome	[20]
Colic	Leaves	[18]
Hypertension	Leaves	[5, 18]
Hemorrhoids	Stem	[5]
Toothache	Rhizome	[5]
CNS depression	Rhizome	[21]
Helminthic	Leaves	[9]
Hepatic disorder	Leaves	[9]
Miscarriage	Leaves	[9]
Gonorrhea	Stem	[16]
Aphrodisiac	Leaves, stem, rhizome	[22]
Ear infection	Leafy stem	[23]
Conjunctivitis	Leafy stem	[15]
Oligospermia	Leaves	[3]