Alpinia galanga is a plant commonly found in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos. In Thailand and Indonesia it is mainly used for culinary purpose. The The robust rhizome has a sharp, sweet taste and smells like a blend of black pepper and pine needles.
This herb is a member of Zingerberaceae plant family.
This is a perennial herb. The rootstock are tubular robust and aeromatic. The sweet smelling leaves are oblong lanceolate, acute, margins whitesheath long and ligule rounded. The flowers blossom in Aptil to May in many panicle and white. The fruits are red and have aroma similar to cardamom.
Usage:
In Ayurveda the plant is useful in toothache, headache, excessive urination. The red fruits are used in Chinese medicine . The essantial oil has anti bacterial prpoperty.
Chemical compounds obtained:
Diarylheptanoid are obtained from this plant.
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Gujarati: Kolinjan
Marathi: Koshta Kulinchan, Kulinjan
Kannada: Kolanjan, Rasmi
Tamil: Arattai
Malayalam: Aratta
Telugu: Kacchuramu, Sannadumparashtramu
