Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Curcuma amada: A Review

Abstract

Plants are considered as one of the main sources of biologically active materials. The medicinal property of a plant depends upon the physiologically active biochemical compounds called secondary metabolites. Curcuma amada is one of the important species of Curcuma family having medicinal and biological properties. The aim of the present paper assesses the phytochemicals, volatile compounds, antimicrobial and other biological activities, along with recent trends in research of C. amada. Volatile oils extracted from rhizomes of C. amada are rich in phytoconstituents. The major constituents found in its rhizomes are curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin), penolic compounds (caffeic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid cinnamic acid), terpinoids (difurocumenol, amadannulen, amadaldehyde) and essential oil (β-myrcene and α-asarone). The curcuminoids present in C. amada is responsible for its therapeutic activities. It is traditionally used to treat various diseases which includes anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-tubercular, anti -allergy, anthelmintic and antipyretic activities. It also possesses healing of various skin diseases.