dug out after cutting the top portions when the crop reaches 1.5-2 years of maturity. The
average yield is 10-15 tonnes of fresh rhizomes/ha and the driage is 25- 3 0%. The collected
rhizomes are washed and cut into pieces of 5cm long and dried in sun for 4 days before sale.
Properties and Activity
The rhizome contains tannins and flavonoids, some of which have been identified as
kaempferide, galangin and alpinin. Seeds contain 1’-acetoxychavicol acetate and 1’-acetoxy
eugenol acetate, antiulcer principles caryophyllenols I and II, n-pentadecane, 7-heptadecane
and fatty acid methyl esters. Rhizomes yield essential oil containing methyl cinnamate,
cineole and d-pinene and sesquiterpenoids. Fresh rhizome yielded 18 monoterpenoids of
which α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene as major compounds and 17 oxygen containing
monoterpenoids with cineol, terpinen- 4 - o1, and α-terpineol as minor compounds.
The rhizomes are bitter, acrid, thermogenic, aromatic, nervine tonic, stimulant,
revulsive, carminative, stomachic, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, expectorant, broncho-dilator,
antifungal, febrifuge, antiinflammatory and tonic. Rhizome is CVS and CNS active, diuretic,
hypothermic. Seed is antiulcerative. Rhizome spray in ether, over a space showed high knock
down values against houseflies. Alcohol (50%) extract of rhizome is anti-amphetaminic.
Unani physicians consider it good for impotence.