Alpinia galanga

Background

Chinese Name (pinyin): Hongdoukou

Chinese Name  :

Common Name  :Galanga Galangal Fruit

Specific Name  : Fructus galangae

Scientific Name:
Collection  : The drug is collected in autumn when the fruit ids turning red, remove from foreign matter and dried in the sun.

Description  : Long spherical, slightly narrow in the middle, 0.7 - 1.2cm long, 5 - 7mm in diameter, externally reddish brown or dark red, somewhat shrunken, apex with yellowish white tubular persistent calyx, base with a fruit stalk scar. Pericarp thin, easily broken, seeds 6, oblate or triangular polygonal, blackish brown or reddish brown, covered with a yellow white membranous aril, endosperm greyish white, odor aromatic, taste pungent

Identification  : 1.Transverse section of seed: aril consisting of 4 - 7 rows of cells, rounded or tangetially elongated with slightly thickened walls. The outer part of the testa consisting of 1 - 5 rows of unlignified and thick walled fibres rounded or polygonal, 13 - 45µm in diameter and 1 row of flattened yellowish brown or dark brown pigment cells beneath them. Oil cells 1 row, square or rectangular, 16 - 45µm in diameter. P{igment layer consisting of 3 - 5 rows of cells containing reddish brown contents, tegment consisting of thick walled palisade cells about 65µm long, 30µm wide, yellowish brown or reddish brown, the inner walls and lateral walls adjacent to the inner side strongly thickened, lumina containing a silica mass. The cells of perisperm filled with masses of starch granules and accassionally containing small prisms of calcium oxalate. The cells of endosperm containing aleurone grains and oil droplets.2.To 1g of the pulverized sample, add 20ml of ether, ultrasonicate for 10 minutes and filter. Wash the residue with a quantity of 10ml ether and filter. Combine the filtrates and evaporate to dryness. Dissolve the residue with 1ml of ethyl acetate as the test solution. Produce a solution of 1g of Fructus galangae reference drug in the same manner as the reference drug solution. Carry out the method for thin layer chromatograpghy (appendix Vl B), using silica gel GF254 as the coating substance and n-hexane acetate (85:15) as the mobile phase. Apply separately to the plate 5 - 10µl of each of the two solutions. After developing and removal of the plate, dry it in the air, examine under ultra violet light (254nm). The three spots with fluorescence in the chromatogram obtained with the test solution correspond in poisition and color obtained with the reference solution. Then spray with 5% solution of vanillin in sulfuric acid and heat at 105ºC for 5 - 10 minutes. The three spots with fluorescence in the chromatogram obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour obtained with the reference drug solution.Assay: weigh accurately a quantity of seeds, carry out the method for determination volatile oil (Appendix X D). The seeds contain not less than 0.4% (ml/mg) of volatile oil.

Processing  : Eliminate foreign matter, break to pieces before use.

Action  : To dispel damp-cold, to invigorate the function of the spleen, and to promote digestion.

Indication  : epigastric pain accompanied by cold sensation; retention of undigested food with abdominal distension, vomiting and diarrhea; excessive alcohol drinking

Precautions  :

Dosage  : 3 to 6 g.

Storage  : Preserve in a cool and dry place.

Evidence or the Use of Alpinia galanga in the Treatment of Epilepesy

1st Five Results: pubmed search

Jiaojiao Hou, Huxuan Gong, Zan Gong, Xiao Tan, Xiangxiang Qin, Jing Nie, Hua Zhu, Shian Zhong
Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory activities of a purified polysaccharide from fruits remnants of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt. et Smith.
Int J Biol Macromol: 2024, 267(Pt 2);131534
[PubMed:38636158] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I a)

Justyna Zagórska, Karolina Pietrzak, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Marcin Czop, Karolina Wojtysiak, Wojciech Koch
##Title##
Int J Mol Sci: 2024, 25(7);
[PubMed:38612437] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I e)

Mohamed Shiffa, Munawwar Husain Kazmi, Syed Mansoor Ali, Aleena Anwar, Mohammed Yasir, Nazeem Fahamiya, Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque
In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity of a Combination of Extracts from Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Alpinia galanga, and Withania somnifera used in Unani Medicine.
Altern Ther Health Med: 2024;
[PubMed:38581340] [WorldCat.org] (P a)

Yang Yang, Hai-Ling Wang, Rui-Tong Cheng, Pei-Rong Zheng, Hui-Peng Sun, Zhi-Wen Liu, Heng Yuan, Xue-Yi Liu, Wen-Yun Gao, Heng Li
Determination of α-Dicarbonyl compounds in traditional Chinese herbal medicines.
Fitoterapia: 2024, 175;105928
[PubMed:38548027] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I a)

Fanding Meng, Pengchong Zhu, Xiaoli Ren, Limei Wang, Dong Ding, Jiangbo Yan, Ying Zhang, Shang-You Yang, Bin Ning
Cardamonin inhibits osteogenic differentiation by downregulating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and alleviates subchondral osteosclerosis in osteoarthritic mice.
J Orthop Res: 2024;
[PubMed:38520666] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I a)