Cyperus spp.: A Review on Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects

Table 1

Examples of folk medicinal uses of a selection of Cyperus species.

Plant species	Country/region	Plant part (s)	Traditional use	Instruction	Reference
Cyperus rotundus L.	North-West Himalaya/India	Roots	Skin diseases	Decoction prepared by burning and adding the ash of fresh leaves of A. baccifera (10 g) and C. rotundus roots (10 g) and fresh ginger (5 g) in sesame oil.	[7]
	Pakistan/India	Tubers	Diabetes	10–12 g of dry tuber powder administered daily twice for 2–3 months.	[17]
	India	Whole plant	Menstruation problem	Juice of the Citrus maxima fruit (100 ml) and 30 g dried powder of C. rotundus is taken once daily for a week.	[18]
	Tamil Nadu/India	Tubers	Snake bite	Paste of leaf and root bark of Albizia amara, root bark of Jasminum angustifolium, and tubers of C. rotundus is heated with oil and applied externally on affected places for 10 days.	[19]
	India	Roots/tubers	Urinary trouble-stone removal	Decoction of the plant is used.	[20, 21]
	India	Whole plant	Epilepsy	Plant decoction (10 ml) with 5 ml of honey is orally administered to treat epilepsy.	[22]
	India	Roots	Cholera	Roots are boiled with equal quantity of mint and given for cholera.	[23]
	India	Roots	Pimples	Roots along with turmeric and curd are made into a paste which is applied on the face for pimples and beautification	[23]
	India	Roots	Increase lactation	Paste of the roots is applied on breasts to increase lactation.	[23]
	North-West Himalaya	Roots	Intermittent fevers	The decoction prepared from 10 g of C. rotundus roots and 5 g of fresh ginger is used.	[24] Das, & Misra [25]
	India	Tubers	Dermatitis	The decoction prepared from tuberous roots of C. rotundus and leaf of Trichosanthes anguina is taken orally to cure dermatitis.	[25]
	India	Tubers	Dysentery	The tuberous root of C. rotundus with other plants which are orally used to treat dysentery is taken in three doses to cure dysentery.	[25]
	India	Tubers	Indigestion disorders, stomachache	A powder was prepared from 10 g of tuber of C. rotundus, 10 g stem bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica, and 10 g of Zingiber officinalis after being sun dried. 30 g powder is given internally along with 250 ml of buttermilk twice daily till cure.	[26]
	India	Tubers	Vaginal discharge	Tubers crushed with Abutilon indicum leaves and sufficient quantity of Cuminum cyminum seeds; extract administered daily twice for three days.	[27] Jahan et al. [28]
	India	Whole plant	Loss of libido in men	Leaves of Psidium guajava, leaves of Punica granatum, and whole plants of C. rotundus are mixed, warmed, and macerated to obtain juice. 1/2 cup of the juice is taken with 10–15 drops of honey twice daily for 3 days.	[28]
	India	Tubers	Constipation	1/2 cup of juice obtained from macerated tubers is taken three times daily.	[28]
	India	Whole plant	Bone fracture	Whole plant of C. rotundus and 7 slices of ginger are crushed and made into a paste. The paste is warmed and applied to fractures.	[29]
	India	Tubers	Jaundice	Fresh rhizome with tuberous root of C. rotundus and fruits of Phyllanthus emblica are taken in equal quantities and ground. 2 spoonfuls of paste mixed in a glass of water are administered daily once for 8 days.	[30]
	India	Bark	Malaria	The decoction is prepared from a mixture of 200 g of rhizome of Costus speciosus, 200 g bark of C. rotundus, and 200 g bark of Azadirachta indica. 2–4 spoons of decoction were prescribed after meal for 15 days.	[31]
	India	Tubers	Bronchitis	Tubers of C. rotundus and leaves of Tinospora cordifolia with fruits of Pergularia daemia are ground. 2 spoons of paste with honey are orally administered twice daily for 30 days.	[32]
	China	—	Coughs	—	[33]
	Rarotonga	Tubers	Sore throat	Twenty to thirty tubers of C. rotundus and a handful of Pandanus tectorius bark which is crushed into the water of four green coconuts. Half the mixture is drunk hot, and the remainder cold. The treatment lasts for three days.	[33]
Cyperus javanicus Houtt.	Rarotonga	Leaves	Fractures/sprains	Leaves without flowers are pounded and squeezed into a small basin of water. The treatment lasts for three days.	[33]
	Rarotonga	Leaves	Irregular menstrual	Leaves with those of several other herbs.	[33]
Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk.	Malaysia	Tubers	Sore legs	—	[33]
Cyperus kyllingia Endl.	Rarotonga	Tubers	Oral thrush	Tubers of C. kyllingia, 4 Aleurites moluccana inside nuts, and a handful of the aerial roots of Ficus prolixa are pounded then squeezed through a cloth into a liter of water.	[33]
Cyperus monocephalus Roxb.	Philippines	Tubers	Dermatosis	Decoction is prepared from tuberous root.	[33]
	Tami Islands	Tubers	Ringworm	Decoction of tubers prepared by adding lime.	[33]
Cyperus compressus L.	India	Roots	Helminthiasis	Powdered roots orally administered.	[16]
Cyperus articulatus L.	Central Africa Republic	Tubers	Headache, migraine	Decoction is prepared from tuberous root.	[34]
Cyperus pedunculatus(R.Br.) J.Kern	West Africa	Stem and leaves	Diarrhea, kidney disease, fever, pain, and inflammations	Extract is made from the whole plant	[35]
Cyperus nitidus Lam.	South Africa	Rhizomes	Respiratory and digestive disorders	Extract is made from the rhizomes	[36]
Cyperus sexangularis Nees	South Africa	—	Asthma, fatigue, fever, pneumonia, and TB	—	[37]
Cyperus sexangularis Nees	South Africa	Roots	Antimicrobial, emollient, diuretic, stimulant, anthelmintic, and analgesic treatment	Extract is made from the roots	[38]
Cyperus kilimandscharicus Kük.	East Africa	Roots	Various animal diseases	Extract is made from the roots	[39]
Cyperus latifolius Poir.	East Africa	Roots	Tuberculosis and related ailments	Extract is made from the roots	[40]
Cyperus maculatus Boeck.	West Africa	Tubers	Cattle worms	—	[41]
Cyperus natalensis Hochst.	South Africa	Roots	Treatment of gynaecology and obstetric complaints	Decoction is prepared from the roots	[42]
Cyperus erectus (Schumach.) Mattf. & Kük.	South Africa	—	Reduces foot swelling	Ground plant is used for the medicinal purposes	[43]
Cyperus mundii (Nees) Kunth	Madagascar	—	Treatment of evacuation of the placenta, tuberculosis, and paludism	Whole plant extract	[44]
Cyperus esculentus L.	Oaxaca, Santa María Tecomavaca	Roots	Depression	Root extracts	[45]
Cyperus flavescens L.	Oaxaca, Santa María Tecomavaca	Roots	Depression	Root extracts	[45]