Alpinia officinarum : Phytochemistry and Pleitropism

Herbal drugs classification system represent as an important system of medicine for the treatment of a wide array of diseases. The medicinal plants from India provide a diverse source for health care moieties in order to prevent different pathological states. Alpinia officinarum, known as lesser galangal, is a world-renowned botanical, which has been used since ages because of its rich medicinal diversity. Alpinia officinarum, a plant from ginger family, originated in China and cultivated in Southeast Asia. The plant grows several feet high, with long leaves and reddish-white flowers alongwith spicy and aromatic rhizomes. Numerous studies reported Alpinia officinarum to possess anti-inflammatory, anticancer, chemoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal and diuretic properties associated with Phyllanthus amarus. The present review articles critically abridges about various phytochemicals associated with the plant alongwith numerous pleiotropic properties exhibited by the plant.