Etymology
Etymology: Genus Alpinia is named after the Italian botanist and physician professor Prospero Alpino (1553-1616). The specific epithet Luteocarpa is a combination of Latin "luteus,a,um" meaning yellow and the Greek substantive "carpos" meaning fruit. (6)
 Botany
Bamboo ginger is a perennial herbaceious aromatic low-growing herb growing up to 1.5 meters high, with horizontal undergrown rhizomes and erect stems. Leaves are lanceolate, grey green to dark green on the upper surface with red or dark reddish purple underside, wide at the base and narrowing to the tip, arranged in a single plane along the stem. Flowers are in clusters of three to five at the ends of branches, each flower with several dark brown to purple bracts that clasp the stalk of the flower. Each flower has a pink to red calyx fused along its length, with white petals fused along half their length. Each flower contains six stamens, with one fertile pollen-producing stamen. Fruit is yellow, round, and three parted, containing many small seeds. (1)
Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also occurs in India, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula.
- A related species, Alpinia galanga, also known as Kha or Galangal, is native to India.
 Constituents
- No phytoconstituent studies found.
Properties
- Rhizome considered aromatic and carminative.
- Like other Alpinias, leaves smell gingery when crushed, with a mild, fruity fragrance.
Parts used
Rhizomes.
Uses
Edibility
- Fruit reported as inedible.
Folkloric
- In the Bicol and Lopez, Quezon areas, rhizomes rubbed on abdomen to treat abdominal pains.
- Rhizome used for digestive disorders.
- Used in traditional Chinese medicine for its warming properties.
Others
- Superstition: In the Lopez, Quezon area, planted in front of houses to drive away evil spirits.
Studies
• Pathogenesis-Related Protein 5: Pathogenesis related protein 5 (PR5) is a family of proteins induced by different phytopathgens in many plants and share a sequence similar to thaumatin. In the study, 8 putative PR5 genes were clone from different species of Zingebereaceae, including A. luteocarpa. Analysis of various protein properties led to the identification of putative antimicrobial domains the these PR5s. (4)
• Antibacterial: Study evaluated the antibacterial activity of Alpinia luteocarpa against fresh meat rot bacteria using paper disc diffusion method. The extract and fraction inhibited bacterial growth of Bacillus cereus ATCC 21772 and Klebsiella pneumonia ATTC 13773. The bacteriostatic properties of the extract and fraction were better than positive control Chlorhexidine antibiotics (500 µg/mL) with inhibition zones 9-11 mm and 7-9 mm. (7)
Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Plants in the cybermarket.
|
.jpg){kind=link}