Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Zingiberaceae)

Abstract

Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. Known as “Tekhao Yaikhu” in Manipur is often used as traditional medicine for inflammation, sprains, rheumatism, muscular pain, wounds and asthma. Phytochemical investigations by various eminent scientists have revealed that many components are bio-active due to the presence of broad range of secondary active metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and benzenoids. Sabinene and terpinen-4-ol have been reported as the main constituents of all the reported oils. In vitro, in vivo examinations or clinical evaluations have shown the major pharmacological activities that includes analgesic activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anticancer and radical scavenging activity, anti-malarial activity and others activities. The information in this review is intended to serve as a reference tool to practitioners in the fields of ethnopharmacology, natural product chemistry and drug discovery research.