Arrowroot, a starchy root vegetable, has been a delicacy in many parts of the world where it was a native, by extracting starch through its powdered flesh. It belongs to the family Marantaceae and is rich in carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, folate, phosphorous, Iron and potassium. It is gluten-free.
Arrowroot flowers are small and occur in clusters with purplish, green, or whitish color. The stems stretch above to support the leaves that occur alternately on the stems and below to support the rhizomes. The rhizomes are shaped like fingers and are about 10-20 centimeters long with a brownish outside and a whitish inside.
The plant is native to the Tropical Americas and is also found in countries like Ghana, Kenya, Thailand, South/North America, and the Caribbean Islands. Species of importance are canna indica(canna), Tacca leontopetaloides (Polynesian), curcuma angustifolia (E. Indiana), and Zamia integrifolia (Florida).
Traditional uses of arrowroot
It was mainly used as food. Traditionally used to manage diarrhea due to its starchy content that helps to firm stool. Its powder, mixed with coconut oil, is used to make an organic deodorant. It can also be used as a component of dry shampoo and powder for skin.
Benefits and pharmacological profile of arrowroot
As a gluten-free diet, with the powder is used in baking or thickening sauces as an alternative for people with allergies.
Aids in weight loss– due to its high soluble fiber content, it induces a feeling of prolonged fullness that in turn controls the amount and number of feeds. This creates a calorie deficit and promotes weight loss.
Antidiarrheal agent– methanol extract of 200-400 mg/kg reduced the frequency of stool movements, thus aiding in the management of diarrhea in vivo. Rahman 2015
Antioxidant profile– ethanolic extract of 125/250/500 mg/kg in rats for 14 days elicited improved markers for lipid peroxidation and enzyme markers like SGPT In vivo. Ramadhani 2017
Immunostimulatory effects– water extracts administered to rats improved IgG, IgA, and IgM. Polyphenols and luteolin compounds were suspected to act through the activation of beta lymphocytes and the modulation of cytokine signaling that is responsible for Ig synthesis. Kumalasari 2012
Blood sugars effects– tuber extracts at 150mg per day for 28 days on mice showed a 40.5% reduction in blood glucose and reduced tolerance, the proposed action of flavonoids being able to improve glucose uptake by activating AMPK and insulin signaling pathways in the liver. Pangastuti 2025
Antimicrobial effects– extract powder feeding showed effect against harmful bacteria, staph aureus, through disruption of cell membranes and oxidative stress induction (Syaphutra2020).
Ethanoic/hexane extracts showed vibriocidal effects against vibrio cholera. Some phenolics showed activity by inhibiting cholera toxin-related pathways, limiting its pathogenicity. Samal 2018
Increase in short-chain fatty acid genera like lagilactobacillus, thus boosting the normal flora and enhancing metabolic processes. Pangastuti 2025
NB: Arrowroot is often confused with other tuber crops like cassava, taro, or yams, the difference is that it is not usually cooked or boiled but rather farmed for its starch content that is used as a powder in other preparations, i.e., as a thickener in herbal preparations.
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