Alpinia roxburghii

Alpinia roxburghii, commonly known as Roxburgh's cardamom, is a perennial herb belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Native to subtropical regions, this aromatic plant is prized in traditional medicine for its potent bioactive compounds. It is widely utilized to treat digestive ailments, inflammation, and respiratory issues through its therapeutic properties.

  • Scientific name: Alpinia roxburghii
  • Family: Zingiberaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Alpinia roxburghii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Zingiberales. Finally, it is a member of the Zingiberaceae family and the genus Alpinia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Zingiberales WCVP
Family Zingiberaceae WCVP
Genus Alpinia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Alpinia roxburgii, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is often identified as the Roxburghia cardamom, while in Hindi, it is known as Kaunsh. Within the local botanical landscape of India, it is also called Alpinia in Bengali and is referred to as Roxburgia cardamom in Assamese.
Language Common Name Source

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution spans across the South-Central and Southeast territories. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it is commonly found in the state of Assam. The species also inhabits the country of Bangladesh, contributing to its regional presence. Finally, its range extends into the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP
Indian Subcontinent India WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Nepal WCVP
Indo-China Laos WCVP
Indo-China Myanmar WCVP
Indo-China Thailand WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as Roxburg's cardamom, is a member of the Zingiberaceae family that holds significant medicinal value through its specific anatomical components. The most therapeutically potent part of the plant is the rhizome, which is extensively harvested and used in traditional medicine for its warming properties and ability to treat digestive ailments. Additionally, the seeds contained within its capsules are utilized for their aromatic and carminative qualities, contributing to the plant's overall medicinal profile.
Total parts
2
Scientific sources
4
Plant Part Sources Confidence
seeds 3 ★★☆☆☆
rhizome 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Alpinia roxburghii has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiplatelet, Antiproliferative.

Total activities
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antiplatelet 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiproliferative 1 ★☆☆☆☆