Black Bangle

Overview

Black bangle is native to South East Asia including Indonesia (Java, Sumatra), Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. The medicinal history of ginger has been extensively searched throughout the world. It is one of Indonesian medicinal plant. It was also called as "The Great Medicament” in Ayurvedic medicines.

Vernacular Names

Bolai hitam, Kunyit hitam, Berseh hitam (Peninsular Malaysia), Phlai dam, Phlai muang (Thailand).

Agroecology

It is commonly found in moist, partially shaded evergreen and monsoon forests on soils rich in organic matter, but also in secondary forests, open habitats at forest edges, disturbed sites and bamboo thickets on rocky soils, open areas and forest margin from 25 m to 1,107 m. This species does best under filtered light (30-40% shade). It will tolerate being grown in full shade, but may not flower as often or as prolifically as those grown in brighter conditions.

Morphology

• Rhizome - branched, 2.2–3 cm diameter, 0.5–2 cm between leafy shoots arising from the same rhizome, externally light yellowish brown, internally pale grey-purplish, aromatic, covered with light brown-yellowish triangular scales, villose, soon decaying.
• Stems - pseudostem leafless, base swollen 1.5–2.3 cm diameter, bladeless sheaths 5–6, to 60 cm long, green, lower ones bright red,externally sparsely white villose, internally glabrous; leaf sheaths green to purplishgreen tinge.
• Leaves - mid green, becoming a faded yellowish green in specimens growing under full sun. Leafy shoots to 1.9 m in height, with 18-25 leaves. The membranous ligules are about 1.3-1.5 cm long.
• Flowers - broad spindle shaped, with 2-3 flowers open at a time. Peduncle dull green, to 30 cm in length. Bracts red or dull-bright reddish brown, smaller towards the apex. Flowers exsert from the bracts, pale cream to very pale dull yellow.
• Fruits - a red cylindrical capsule.

Cultivation

By portions of rhizomes known as seed rhizomes. Preserved seed rhizomes are carefully cut into small pieces of 2.5–5.0 cm length weighing 20–25 g; each of the pieces should have one or two buds.

Chemical Constituents

Terpenoids, diarylheptanoid, zerumbone, p-cymene, sabinene, humulene, trans-caryophyllene, β–elemene, 1,5-cyclodecadiene, (-)-caryophyllene, 1-4- terpineol, 1,8-cineole, γ-terpinene.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• It has ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor, α-glucosidase inhibitor, antibacterial, inhibitor of nitric oxide production, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antiinflammation properties.
• The rhizome has strong antiproliferative effects against colon cancer, and three fungal species.
• In Indonesia, used as postpartum medicine and also to treat itching, pain,fever, go out, and cough. The stem is used as part of a sedative lotion by the Javanese. 
• The traditional midwives of Perak, Malaysia, used the rhizome and leavesas a poultice applied on the body of the women in confinement. The leavesare also used as a poultice for lumbago.