Zingiber cassumunar Roxburgh

10 tons/year

10 tons/year

30 Thai Bahts/kg of fresh rhizome

Cultivated, organic

The areas under cultivation are in the estern part provinces including Chantaburi, Cholburi.

Thai Food and Drug Administration 
Web: http://www.fda.moph.go.th/eng/index.stm

Contact
Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture 
Web: http://www.doa.go.th/

Contact
Royal Forest Department of Thailand 
Web: http://www.forest.go.th/

Contact
Thai-China Flavours & Fragrances Industry Co. Ltd.
175/6-7 Soi Amorn, Nang Linjee Rd., Chongnonsee, Yannawa
Bangkok 10120
Thailand
Tel: 662 286-7681/ 213-1080

Contact
Plaitanoids
www.kovic.com,

Essential oils
Thai-China Flavours & Fragrances Industry Co. Ltd.
175/6-7 Soi Amorn, Nang Linjee Rd., Chongnonsee, Yannawa
Bangkok 10120
Thailand
Tel: 662 286-7681/213-1080

It was traditional use as deflatulance and anti-inflammatory for sprain.

Antiasthmatic activity: The active ingredient; (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) but-3-en-l-ol extracted  from Zingiber cassumun have been reported to poss antagonistic activities to histamine, acetylcholine, nicotine and serotonin secreted from smooth muscle of ileum of guinea pigs. In addition, antihistaminic effect of (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) but-3-en-l-ol on other smooth muscle e.g. bronchial muscles, cardiac muscle and  was found possitive in both in vivo and in vitro (Kiatyingaungsulee et al., 1979). This brings to development of some drug formulation containing Zingiber cassumun as an antiasthmatic drug in the future (Anonymous, 2000a).

Hypotensive activity: Water extract of Zingiber cassumunwas found to decrease blood pressure of rats anesthesized with pentobarbital sodium in dose-response manner (Mokkhasmit et al., 1971).

Antiarrhythmatic activity: Water extract of Zingiber cassumun showed negative inotropic effect on turtle heart which action similar to quinidine, an antiarrhythmic drug (Veerasarn, 1971).

Spermicidal activity: Terpinen-4-ol, an active ingredient extracted from essential oil of Zingiber cassumun at concentration 0.016% showed 100% spermicidal activity (Wasuwat, 1984).

Local anesthetic activity: Water extract of Zingiber cassumun showed similar local anesthetic action as lidocaine on nerve action potential of sciatic nerve (Anantasan and Asayakun, 1971; 1975).

Antibacterial activity: Extract of rhizome of Zingiber cassumunfrom differentextracting solvents showed different results of antibacterial activity. Diethyl ether extract showed antibacterial activity to E. coli, Bacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Staphylococcus aureus (Anuntasarn 1977) while petroleum ether showed inhibitory effect to S. aureus, B. subtilis, E.coli and Candida albican. However, water extract of rhizome of Zingiber cassumun showed no inhibitory effect to the aboved bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris (Asayakun et al., 1983).

Antifungal activity: Antifungal activity of rhizome of Zingiber cassumun studied by some investigators were reported (Kishore and Dwivedi, 1992).

Antioxidant activity: Methanol extract of rhizome of Zingiber cassumunwas reported to have high antioxidant activity comparing to other 10 curcumin containing plants (Chirangini et al., 2004).

The quality control in Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia Vol.I

Identification

By Chemical test: To 500 mg of the sample, in powder, add 5 ml of chloroform, set aside for 5 minutes and filter (solution A). Examine 1 ml of solution A under ultraviolet light (366 nm): a greenish yellow fluorescence is observed. To 1 ml of solution A, add 2.0 ml of acetic anhydride-sulfuric acid TS: a reddish brown colour is produced.

By Chemical test C: To 1 ml of solution A, add 1 ml of boric acid-methanol TS: an orage colure is produced.

By TLC: Carry out the test as described in the “Thin-layer Chromatography”, using silica gel GF254 as coating substance and a mixture of 70 volumes of hexane and 30 volumes of ethyl acetate as the mobile phase but allowing the solvent front to ascend 15 cm above the line of application(A) by separately to the plate, 2 µl of solution (A) and 3 µl of solution (B). Prepare solution (A) by extracting 2.5 g of the sample, in powder, with hexane until complete extraction is effected. For solution (B) dissolve 1 mg of curcumin in 1 ml of chloroform. After removal of the plate from the chromatographic chamber, allow it to dry in air and examine under ultraviolet light (254 nm), marking the quenching spots. The spots obtained with solution (A) correspond in hRf values to the spot numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Several spots of higher hRf values are also observed. Spray the plate with anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid TS and heat at 110° C for 10 to 15 minutes; the spots due to those of numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are brown, carmine-red, olive-green, wide-red, violet, and dark pink, respectively. Red spot due to curcumin (hRf values 10 to 13) and other spots of different coloure are observed.

Repeat the same procedure on another plate but spray with vanillin-sulfuric acid TS and heat at 110° C for 10 to 15 min, the spots due to those of numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are olive-green, dark pink, purple, blue-violet, red, and light orange, respectively. Red-brown spot due to curcumin and other spots of different colours are observed.

Quantitative parameters

• Water not more than 13% w/w
• Foreign matter not more than 2% w/w
• Acid-insoluble ash not more than 3% w/w
• Total ash not more than 9% w/w
• Chloroform-soluble extractive not less than 5% w/w
• Hexane-soluble extractive not less than 3% w/w

Volatile oil not less than 2% v/w. Use 10 g in freshly prepared coarse powder, accurately weighed. Use 100 ml of water as the distillation liquid and a 500 ml round-bottomed flask. Distil at a rate of 2 to 3 ml per min for 5 h. Use 2 ml of xylene in the graduated tube.

Acute toxicity test of Zingiber cassumunar in mice and wistar rats, respectivly. Revealed no evidence of toxicity in mice when given 10 g/kg body weight. LD50 of 50% alcoholic extract administered per o.s. and subcutaneous are more than 20 g/kg and intraperitoneal is 14.8 g/kg. Subchronic and chronic toxicity test showed no evidence of abnormalities of rats organs.

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory actions: Efficacy of PlaiGesal cream was tested with 21 wounded ankle joints comparing to placebo. It was reported that PaiGesal reduced edema and algesia of wounded ankle  significantly in the first 2-3 days of the treatment (Laopatarakasem et al., 1993).

Antihistaminic action in asthmatic patients: Antihistaminic action of “Plai” Zingiber cassumun at a single dose of 11-25 mg/kg was observed in 24 pediatric asthmatic patients comparing to chlorpheniramine at 0.1 mg/kg (standard dosage). However, antihistaminic effect of Plai is lower than chlorpheniramine significantly (p< 0.05) (Piromratana et al., 1986).

Reduction of asthmatic symptoms: Both acute and chronic asthmatic patients in Siriraj Hospital, a Thai government hospital were studied for efficacy of “Plai” Zingiber cassumun. It was reported that 8 mild asthmatic patients were recovered from asthmatic symptoms with better lung function after orally taken 250 mg of Zingiber cassumun. However, there was no change in pulse and blood pressure and no therapeutic effect in severe asthma. Prophylactic action of Zingiber cassumun at 130 mg b.i.d. (after breakfast and dinner) for 3 months was observed in reduction of 12 chronic moderate asthmatic patients. There was no report on toxicity or adverse effects of both studies (Tuchinda et al., 1984). Prevention of asthmatic symptoms were repeated by using higher doses; 500, 750 and 1,000 mg/day (divided into 2 dosages) in patients weight over 35 kgBW. It was reported that almost (19) patients showed better symptoms and only few patients did not response to this medicinal drug. Very few adverse effects were reported during this study, mainly frequent defecation but not severe (Yongjaiyut et al., 1985).

It should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.

Topical application using 14 % (w/w) of volatile oil in cream base.

As Thai traditional medicine