Phytochemical and Ethano-Pharmacological Potentialities of Kaempferia galanga L.

Abstract

Kaempferia galanga L. belongs to Zingiberaceae family known as Ekangi or Aromatic zinger or Kencur is an important medicinal and aromatic plants withimmense ethnomedicinal, therapeutic, nutraceutical and economical potentialities due to high content of nutrients, essential oil, phytochemicals, several bioactive compounds and antioxidants etc. Till date it is considered as unutilized medicinal herbs in spite of having different phytochemical and pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-diarrheal, anti-bacterial, analgesic, cytotoxic, nematocidal, insecticidal and anti-helmintic, larvicidal and repellent activities, sniffing,  amebicidal, antiprotozoal, anti-tuberculosis, anti-angiogenic, anti-cancer, osteolysis, hyperlipidemic, hypopigmentary, wound healing properties, vasorelaxant, anti-neoplastic, sedative, rheumatic, anti-nociceptive effect and several bioactive compounds like ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate, ethyl cinnamate, Kaempferol, Kaempferide, 3-Caren-5-one, Diarylheptanoids and Cystargamide etc. Traditionally, this medicinal herb has diverse use in the treatment of headache, hypertension, gastritis, diarrhea, vertigo, wounds, flatulence, joint fractions, rheumatic diseases, dandruff, pain disorders, skin diseases, antidote for snake venoms, inflammations, arthritis, toothache etc. In this context, this study provides a sneak peek view on multidimensional potentialities of Kaempferia galangal throwing light on its current status, phytochemistry, ethanobotany, pharmacology, ethnomedicinal, nutraceutical qualities and toxicology etc. Although earlier research works and studies have provided extensive information of Kaempferia galanga but, more in-depth research works are still pending and utmost required for systematic evaluation as well as exploration of their potentialities and opportunities in future.