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Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Aromatic Ginger
• Resurrection Lily
• Sand Ginger
• galanga
• Cutcherry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kaempferia latifolia
• Kaempferia marginata
• Kaempferia plantaginifolia
• Alpinia sessilis
• Kaempferia wanhom
• Kaempferia soncorus
• Kaempferia galanga var. latifolia
• Kaempferia kelenga
• Kaempferia humilis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Zingiberales, specifically being a member of the family Zingiberaceae. Within this botanical hierarchy, it is categorized under the genus Kaempferia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several prominent regions in Asia. In China, it is notably distributed throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into Eastern Asia, where it can be found growing in Taiwan. The species is also well-established within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the state of Assam. Finally, its distribution includes the neighboring country of Bangladesh, completing its regional spread.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Kaempferia galanga is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a geophyte, its survival strategy relies on underground storage organs, typically rhizomes, which enable the plant to endure unfavorable environmental conditions and regrow during optimal periods. This life form allows the plant to remain dormant below the soil surface, emerging periodically to produce its foliage and flowers, ensuring long-term stability within its ecological niche.

Life form :

geophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Kaempferia galanga is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 0.4 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant is self-supporting in its structure and does not exhibit any climbing habits, maintaining a compact, herbaceous habit throughout its life cycle.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kaempferia galanga is characterized by its specialized metabolic processes and rhizomatous growth habit, which allow it to thrive in shaded, tropical understory environments. As a member of the Zingiberaceae family, the plant utilizes C3 photosynthetic pathways to convert light energy into chemical energy, supported by a robust underground rhizome system that serves as a primary organ for nutrient and water storage. This rhizomatous structure facilitates vegetative propagation and enables the plant to persist through periods of environmental stress. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root system; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer (trait_1: no). Instead, it relies on the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium through its fibrous root network to support its physiological requirements for growth and the synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, such as ethyl p-methoxycinnamate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kaempferia galanga has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf, root.

Rhizome

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
4. British journal of cancer
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Root

1. Ancient science of life

Chemicals

Kaempferia galanga has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, ETHYL CINNAMATE, (-)-sandaracopimaradiene, Borneol, CAMPHENE.

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate

1. Dr. Duke
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
3. Fitoterapia
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ETHYL CINNAMATE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-sandaracopimaradiene

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Borneol

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPHENE

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Toxicology reports

Carene

1. Dr. Duke

Caryophyllene

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Coumarins

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Kaempferia galanga has 43 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, Allelochemic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of otorhinolaryngology
3. AAPS PharmSciTech

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ancient science of life

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholine

1. Dr. Duke

Antibronchitic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Kaempferia galanga has 31 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, rheumatic diseases, Ascaris lumbricoides, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, allergy.

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of inflammation research

Rheumatic diseases

1. Plant diversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ascaris lumbricoides

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Fitoterapia

Allergy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Toxicology reports

Cold

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Contusions

1. Plant diversity

Preparations

Kaempferia galanga has 26 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, rhizomes, "Gandha Thailam", "Rasnairandadi Kashayam", Crude methanol extracts of the rhizomes.

Ethanol extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Natural product communications

Rhizomes

1. Bioorganic chemistry
2. The protein journal

"gandha thailam"

1. Plant diversity

"rasnairandadi kashayam"

1. Plant diversity

Crude methanol extracts of the rhizomes

1. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Ethanolic and water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acetone extract of leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Acetone extract of rhizome

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Acetonic leaf extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous extract

1. Ancient science of life