Botanical - Zingiberaceae

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• English : Greater galangal, Java galangal
• Hindi : Kulanajn, Kulinjan
• Kannada : Doddarasagadde
• Malayalam : Aratta, Cittaratta
• Sanskrit : Rasna Sugandhamula
• Tamil : Arattai Perarattai
• Telugu : Dumparastramu

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Grows wild in the mountains and is cultivated everywhere.

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A perennial, aromatic, rhizomatous herb, 1.8-2.1m in height; leaves oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, acuminate, very shortly petioled, ligule short, rounded, ciliate; flowers fragrant, greenish white with red lips, in dense panicles; fruits capsules orange red when ripe.

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The rhizome yields an essential oil consisting of cineol. Methyl cinnamate and flavones: galangin, alpinin, kaempferide and 3-dioxy 4-methoxy flavone.

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Essential oil from rhizomes exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Planta Med. 1985, 51,507). Isolation of l-acetoxychavicol acetate, l-acetoxyeugenol acetate and l-hydroxy- duncol acetate (Planta Med. 1985, 51,507; ibid. 1987, 53, 32); two new diterpenes - galanal A and galanaTB (15-epimer of galanal A) - isolated from seeds and their structures established (Chem. Lett. 1986, 1205; Chem. Abstr. 1986, 105, 130685 z; Planta Med. 1988, 54, 117); galanolactone, (E)8(17),12-labdadien-15,16-dial and (E)8(17)-epoxylabd-13-en-15,16-dial isolated from seeds and characterised (Planta Med. 1988, 54, 117); isolation of a new compound - di(p-hydroxy-cis-styryl)methane - along with p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde from rhizomes

According to ayurveda it contains

• Gunna (properties) –laghu (small), tikshan (sharp) and ruksh (rough)
• Rasa (taste) –katu (pungent)
• Virya (potency) – ushan (hot)

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It has no toxic effect on human body if taken in limited amount.

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Rhizomes

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1. General body and nervous weakess
2. Mouth related problems
3. Tastelessness
4. Loss of appetite
5. Pain abdomen
6. Drying of mouth
7. Heart related problems
8. Helps in respiratory problems
9. Excess urinantion
10. Impotence
11. Erectile dysfunction
12. Throat related problems

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Powder- it is used in skin related problems for external use. It is also helpful in nervine weakness and general body debility. It improves the taste of the mouth and imorves the digestive activities. It is also helpful in throat related problems, cough and asthma. It also acts as aphrodisiac agent. It helps in resolving erectile dysfunction and impotence.

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