A rhizomatus aromatic herb having height upto 90 cm. Leaves long, petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, tapering at both ends, glabrous. Flowers white or pale yellow in spikes in the centre of the tuft of leaves.
Herb Effects
Potentiation of amphetamine toxicity, stimulates the central nervous system, hypothermic and carminative (rhizome); fights the microorganism (Vibrio) that causes cholera and acts as a trypsin inhibitor (tuber); sweet, bitter, appetizer, alexiteric, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, laxative.
Chemistry
Active Ingredients
Alpha-pinene, camphor, alpha and beta- cucumene, cuminyl alcohol, turmerone and myristic acid (essential plant oil).
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
alpha-Pinene
80-56-8
2,7,7-trimethylbicyc lo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene
C10H16
Camphor
8022-77-3
1,7,7-trimethylnorbo rnan-2-one
C10H16O
Myristic Acid
Not Available
Hexane
C6H14
Cuminyl alcohol
536-60-7
(4-propan-2-ylphenyl )methanol
C10H14O
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
As a carminative, increasing the secretion of gastric juices, bruises and sprains (rhizome); biliousness, various skin related ailments, bronchitis, asthma, hiccup, inflammations etc (plant)
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.