Description of Insulin Plant, Chemical Composition, Medicinal usage of Insulin plant.

1. MEDICINAL USAGE OF
INSULIN PLANT
(Costus igneus )
Z.Kathambari Barjana,
III BSc Zoology, 18ZOO15,
EMG Yadava Women’s College,
Madurai -14,
Tamilnadu
Dr.V.Vijaya
Assistant Professor of Botany
E.M.G. Yadava Women’s College
Madurai -14
Tamilnadu.
veluvijaya@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION:
Costus igneus is a recent introduction to India from America as a herbal cure
for diabetes. Hence commonly known as insulin plant. It is revered as the
miracle plant in healing diabetes, prevent cancer and stroke, reduce the risk
of cardiovascular disease, etc..
Common names: Fiery costus, Step ladder, Spiral flag, Spiral ginger, Insulin
plant and kottam or kuraaram in Tamil
Kingdom : Plantae
Phylum : Tracheophyta
Class : Liliopsida
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Costaceae

3. HISTORY PROFILE:
 Used for thousands of years
 Revered as the “rescuer of illness” as it cures almost all diseases
 Used as a dietary supplement for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in Siddha and
Ayurveda
 Used as an infusion for renal disorders in Mexican folk medicine
 Native: South and central America
 Occurrence: All over India, especially in plains

4. PLANT MORPHOLOGY:
 Upright, perennial shrub
 Height : 2 feet long
 Tall stems falling over and lying on the ground.
 Evergreen leaves which are simple, alternate, entire and oblong. Leaves are 4 to 8 inches long and
have parallel thick veins.
 The large smooth dark green leaves of this tropical evergreen plant have light purple underside with
spiral arrangement around the stem forming attractive, arching clumps arising from the underground
root stock.
 Soft, cylindrical fleshy pale brown rhizome is considered to be a bitter, aphrodisiac, purgative,
depurative, febrifuge, expectorant.
 Beautiful orange flowers having the diameter of 1.5 inch are produced in the warm months. They
appear like cones on the top of branches .
 Green fruits are inconspicuous, not smaller than 0.5 inch.
 Strong tap root is present.
 Propagation through stem cutting
 Sweet and sour taste

5. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
 Leaf, stem, root and rhizome are used for medicinal purpose
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF LEAF: Carbohydrates, Proteins,
Triterpenoids, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Steroids, Saponin, Tannins,
Ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, β-Flavonoids, chlorophyll a,
chlorophyll b, trace amounts of K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Cu and Zn
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF STEM: Steroid compounds Lupeol
and stigmasterol
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF RHIZOME: Bioactive compounds
Quercetin and Diosgenin, Steroidal Sapogenin
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OF ROOT: Terpenoids, Alkaloids,
Tannins

6. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY:
Antidiabetic
effect
Antioxidant
effect
Antiproliferation
Diuretic
effect
Immunity
booster
Anti
inflammatory
property
Antimicrobial
activity
Antibacterial
property
Antipasmodic
Antiseptic
nature

7. HEALTH
BENEFITS
Prevent Cancer
Reduces BP and the risk
of Cardiovascular disease
Eliminates free
radicals
Boosts immunity
Softens kidney
stones
Reduces
cholesterol and
prevent stroke
Aids digestion
Improves bowel
movement
Cure asthma
Curing Diabetes

8. MEDICINAL USES:
1.NATURAL SUGAR CONTROLLER:
 Opens a new path for insulin to enter into cells
 Reduces diabetes related complications
 Brings renal and hepatic parameters under control
 Corrects lipid profile
 Decreases the amount of glycosylated haemoglobin
 Increases body weight and insulin
•An important
triterpenoid
Carosolic acid
•Inhibits the
body to
produce
glucose
Gluconeogenesis
•Helps the
body to
maintain
glucose level
Sugar control

9. 2.Cancer Preventive Herb
Prevents the
growth of
cancer
Anti
proliferation,
anti ageing
cancer potential
and ability to
inhibit
floriferous
HT29 and A549
cells in the bark
and leaf
3.Antioxidants:
 Quercetin and Diosgenin are the important antioxidants in the insulin plant.
 Reduces stress in the liver, pancreas and kidney
 Destroys free radicals
 Protects body from several health disorders
• Quercetin:
 Heals inflammation
 Boosts immune system
 Eliminates pain
 Protects from cardiovascular disease
 Protects from skin irritation
:

10. 4.Antibacterial property:
Posses antibacterial property against,
Gram positive bacteria
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus megaterium
Micrococcus lactis
Gram negative bacteria
Pseudomonas aerogenes
Salmonella
Typhimurium
5.Aids digestion:
• Insulin plant improves digestion as a natural prebiotic.
• It promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
• Prebiotic is a friendly bacteria essential for the
 Proper absorption of nutrients
 Lubricants in the intestine
 Smoothen the stools

11. 7.Reduction of Fats and Cholesterol:
 The leaves and rhizome of insulin plant have sodium and water retention capacity
 It has diuretic effect.
 It balances the clearance of sodium and potassium for urination.
 Improves the excretion of fluids and toxins from kidney.
 Promotes the softening of kidney stones.
 Stimulates soft easy urination.
 Healing the bladder functions.
6.Healing and prevention of kidney failure:
 Insulin plant breaks down fat deposits and unnecessary toxins.
 Thus, it heals liver and pancreatic problems.
 It reduces cholesterol and regulates blood pressure.
 Thus, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
 Insulin plant also prevents stroke.

12. 8.Anti-inflammatory property:
 Insulin plant has the ability to control and slow down the inflammation in the
airways of lungs and throughout the heart muscles.
 Due to its anti-inflammatory properties can treat sore throat.
 Thus, it helps to alleviate the symptoms of Bronchitis and Asthma.
9.Anti-microbial activity:
 The insulin leaves paste is good for skin.
 It tightens and increases the elasticity of the skin.
 The anti-microbial activity is effective for the candidiasis of the nails and hair.
10.Insulin Root:
 Insulin root is said to be purgative.
 Used as tonic, anthelmintic and aphrodisiac in Uttar Pradesh
 Also used in catarrhal fever, cough, dyspepsia worms.
 It is also used in snake bites and skin diseases.

13. 11.Insulin Rhizome:
 Alkaloids from rhizome have been found to posses antispasmodic, cardiotonic and
diuretic also.
 It is essential for the treatment of central nervous system.
 It also provides relief from pain by reducing the sensitivity of nerves.
 Rhizome is useful in burning sensation, constipation, leprosy, worm infection,
skin diseases, fever and asthma

14. OTHER USES:
Ornamental Plant:
 Insulin plant is well reckoned for its lush green foliage.
 Because of its bright, orange flowers, it grown as an ornamental plant
in southern India.
 The flower blossoms in the temperature range between 35ºC to 45ºC
Insulin Tea:
 Insulin plant can be consumed as tea.
 The extract of clean and dried leaves or tea made with leaf powder.
 We can add honey for taste.
Edible Rhizome:
 The rhizome is edible after cooking.
 It is rich in starch and fiber

15. Intake:
 Diabetic patients can take 2 leaves per day in the morning and in
the evening.
 It is found to be very effective in bringing blood sugar levels under
control.
Precaution:
 Pregnant women and lactating mothers should avoid the
consumption of insulin leaf.

16. CONCLUSION:
‘‘An insulin leaf a day keeps diabetes away’’
is the quote of the day. Insulin plant occupies a unique
position with various pharmacological activities. It is less
toxic and easily available. Insulin plant act as a natural
insulin and natural sugar controller. It is advisable to use this
plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Researches are
still going on. This will open a completely new domain in the
treatment of diabetes mellitus in the future!

17. REFERENCES:
 https://ijpsr.com/bft-article/costus-igneus-a-therapeutic-anti-diabetic-herb-with-active-
phytoconstitutents/?view=fulltext
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931203/
 https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Insulin-Plant-Cid4821
 http://www.stuartxchange.org/InsulinPlant
 https://fusion.werindia.com/grandma-medicine/health-benefits-insulin-plant
 https://defeatdiabetes.org/resources/healthful-eating/mindful-eating/insulin-plant/
 https://m.floweraura.com/blog/how-to-grow-insulin-plants-at-home-to-cure-diabetes
 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arvind_Singh56/post/Insulin_plant_Costus_igneus_Doe
s_it_really_work_against_diabetes_How_it_works/attachment/5d24b4ac3843b0b9825a0193/A
S%3A778778351509504%401562686636104/download/1.pdf