Perfumed Ginger (Hedychium Spicatum Sm): An Essential oil-bearing plant

Abstract

Hedychium spicatum Buch. Ham. ex D. Don. belonging to family Zingiberaceae, commonly known as kapoor kachri is, an essential oil-bearing species known for its medicinally useful scented rhizomes. The herb forms an important part of various polyherbal formulations cited in various classical texts of Chinese, Tibetian, Indian and Unani origin. The rhizome contains about 4% of essential containing a variety of terpenoids (monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids) with 1, 8-Cineole, camphene, sabinene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-phellandrene as major constituents. It is traditionally used for the treatment of different kinds of pain, inflammation, respiratory and blood disorders. The present study systematically compiles its botany, distribution, cultivation, traditional uses, phytochemistry, IUCN status, pharmacological activities and granted patents with respect to the herb and formulations containing H. spicatum. It adds up to the existing knowledge of the previous reviews on the species with prioritization on metabolic profiling and need to use advanced biotechnological propagation techniques for better conservation of the herb in its natural habitat hence preventing its adulteration in trade markets.