360 Handbook of herbs and spices
21.3 Molecular pharmacology................................................................
Dried rhizomes of A. galanga are an important drug in traditional medicine systems
of India and China. Many chemical components of galangal have potent biological
properties. Such molecular pharmacological properties contribute to the therapeutic
effectiveness of the galangal (Table 21.1)
21.4 Functional properties......................................................................
Rhizome is bitter, acrid, thermogenic, aromatic, nervine tonic, stimulant, carminative,
stomachic, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, expectorant, bronchodilator, febrifuge, anti-
inflammatory and tonic (Warrier et al., 1994). Galangal has a wide range of applications
in traditional medicine. Rhizomes show antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and
expectorant activities (Scheffer and Jansen, 1999). Galangal’s anti-bacterial effect
acts against germs, such as Streptococci, Staphylococcus and coliform bacteria. This
Table 21.1 Attributed biological properties of the chemical components of galangal
Compound Attributed properties
Borneol Analgesic, antibronchitic, acetylcholine anatagonist, antiinflammatory,
antipyretic, antispasmodic, CNS-stimulant, CNS-toxic (at high doses),
hepatoprotectant, myorelaxant, sedative.
1,8-cineole Anesthetic, antiacetylcholinesterase, antiallergic, antibacterial, antibrochitic,
anticarcenogenic, antiinflammatory, antirheumatic, antirhinitic, antiseptic,
antispasmodic, antitussive, candidicide, ascaicide, carcinogenic (high and
constant use), CNS-stimulant, convulsant, decongestant, expectorant,
myorelaxant, P-450 inducer, neurotoxic, rubifacient, sedative, testosterone-
hydroxylase inducer.
Eugenol Analgesic, anticancer, anticonvulsant, antiedemic, antiarchidonate, anti-
inflammatory, antimutagenic, prostaglandin inhibitor, antipyretic, antiseptic,
antispasmodic, antitumour necrosis factor, CNS-depressant, COX- 1 and
COX-2 inhibitor, cytochrome P450 inhibitor, hepatoprotective, larvicide,
irritant, insecticide, motor depressant, neurotoxic, sedative, trypsin enhancer,
ulcerogenic, vasodialator, vermifuge.
Galangin Antiaflatoxic, antiinflammatory, antimutagenic, anticancer, antioxidant,
antiviral, aromatase inhibitor, cycloxygenase inhibitor, COX-2 inhibitor,
hepatoprotective, NO inhibitor, quinone reductase inducer, topo-isomerase
–1-inhibitor, tyrosinase inhibitor.
Camphor Analgesic, anesthetic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, fungicide, anticancer,
decongestant, expectorant, antiemetic, carminative.
b-bisabolene Abortifacient, antirhinoviral, antiulcer, stomachic.
Myrcene Analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antimutagenic, anti-
nitrosaminic, antioxidant, antipyretic, antispasmodic, irritant, aldose-reductase
inhibitor.
Quercetin Analgesic, antiaggregant, antiinflammatory, antileukemic, antileukotriene,
antilipoperoxidant, antimelanomic, antimutagenic, antinitrosaminic,
antioxidant, antiperoxidant, antitumour, apoptotic, COX-2 inhibitor,
cyclooxygenase inhibitor, hepatoprotective, lipoxygenase inhibitor, mast-
cell stabilizer, ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, P-450 inhibitor, protein
kinse-C-inhibitor, topoisomerase I and II inhibitor, tyrosine kinase inhibitor,
NADH-Oxidase inhibitor, hypoglycemic, quinone reductase inhibitor.
Source: Collected from various sources, mainly from Duke (2003), Martindale, the Extra Pharmacopoeia
(2002).