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Herb library · Herb · Hypoxis hemerocallidea

African potato

The underground corm of a yellow-flowered southern African plant, widely sold as an immune tonic, including to people living with HIV. There are no trials showing it works, one trial was stopped over apparent bone-marrow suppression, and wild plants are under pressure from harvesting.

Traditional use

Zulu traditional healers have used the corm for centuries, and it is taken in southern Africa for wasting illness, urinary infections, heart weakness, infertility, bad dreams and to strengthen immunity. In the 2000s it was promoted, including by South Africa's health ministry, for people with HIV/AIDS, and it is also sold for an enlarged prostate.

What studies show

  • Insufficient

    Immunity and HIV: no clinical trials show benefit. A 2020 systematic review found only laboratory and animal studies of its immune and other effects and said more research is needed to back any claim.

Be careful of

Cautions

  • NoteA clinical trial in people with HIV/AIDS was ended early by its safety committee, citing apparent bone-marrow suppression; supporters of the remedy disputed this. Nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects.
  • InteractionIn lab tests it blocks several liver enzymes (including CYP3A4) and a drug pump that handle many medicines, including HIV drugs. Two small studies in people found no change in efavirenz or lopinavir/ritonavir levels, but interactions with other drugs have not been ruled out.
  • NoteIntensive harvesting from the wild has raised conservation concerns for this species, and its seed is slow and hard to germinate.
  • Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines (especially HIV medicines), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child. Do not stop prescribed HIV medicine for an herbal product.

Sources

  1. African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea): a systematic review of its chemistry, pharmacology and ethno medicinal properties (BMC Complement Med Ther, 2020) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  2. African herbal medicines in the treatment of HIV: Hypoxis and Sutherlandia. An overview of evidence and pharmacology (Nutr J, 2005) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  3. Effect of African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea) on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz (S Afr Med J, 2008) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  4. Co-administration of a commonly used Zimbabwean herbal treatment (African potato) does not alter the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir (Int J Infect Dis, 2013) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  5. GA3-mediated dormancy alleviation in the reputed African potato, Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med, 2014) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026

Reviewed September 25, 2026.