Malacca ginger

Overview

The species is a native of Indonesia and Malaysia. It occurs from Assam, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia to China—Xizang and Yunnan. It is cultivated in India and Java. The plant is cultivated for ornamental and medicinal purposes.

Vernacular Names

Mao ban shan jiang (Chinese), Jangali adrak (India), Puar (Malay), Kha paa (Thai), Rieng malacca (Vietnamese), Tagbak-babae (Tagalog-Philippines), Mak Kha (Laos), Deotara (Bangladesh), Malakka-galgant (German).

Agroecology

Alpinia malaccensis thrives in a wet/dry month - soon tropical climate with mean annual rainfall over 1,400 mm and mean annual temperature around 25.3 °C from near sea level to 1,500 m altitude. In its native range, it occurs in full sun to partial shade in secondary vegetation, bamboo and teak forest, brushwood and ravines on soils rich in organic matter from near sea level to 1,200 m elevation.

Morphology

• Pseudostems - up to 3–4 m.
• Leaves - oblong, 30 to 60 cm long, 10 to 13 cm wide, smooth on both surfaces except on the edges and at the base where it is hairy. Calyx - spathaceous, urn-shaped, cleft on one side, irregularly toothed, and as long as the corolla tube, 10 to 13 mm long.
• Bracts - large spathaceous, about 2 cm long. 
• Corolla tube - broad, with the lobes, white, silky, broad, oblong, about 2 cm in length and 7 mm wide.

Cultivation

The plant is propagated by seeds or division of the rhizome.

Chemical Constituents

Sesquiterpene, essential oil, camphor, sabinene, linalool, fenchyl acetate, citronellol, decanoic acid, β-farnesol, α-farnesol, myristic acid, palmitic acid, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, glycosides.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The study describes chemical composition, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and antifungal effects of essential oil. 
• The pounded rhizome is used to cure wounds and sores.
• The rhizomes were chewed in the Moluccas, together with betel nut (Areca catechu) to make the voice strong and clear.
• An infusion of the ripe and unripe fruits, with a little salt, is taken as an emetic.
• A decoction of the fruit or the crushed seed is applied for gastralgia with tympanites. It is used for bathing feverish people.
• In Sumedang and Subang, West Java, the leaf is used in children as an anti-vomiting, and rhizome oil used as massage oil.
• In Vietnam, juice from boiled rhizomes is used to treat intestinal disorders and crushed rhizomes is used topical for scabies.