NEW MEDICO-ETHNO-BOTANICAL REPORT OF ALPINIA GALANGA WILL. (ZINGIBERACEAE) USED BY CHAKMA TRIBE FROM TRIPURA IN NORTH EAST INDIA

Abstract

A new medico-ethno-botanical report of Alpinia galanga Will. (Zingiberaceae) used by Chakma tribe from Tripura in North east India is presented in the communication for the treatment of painful menstruation and at the time of child birth to induce labour pain in case of inadequate labour pain and to promote expulsion of placenta in case of retain placenta. The claim is new in relation to reporting and enlightened a new direction for ethnopharmacological validation since rhizome of the plant have already reported for various ethnobotanical uses from North east India and pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antileishmanial, antimicrobial, antigiardial, antidermatophytic, antidiabetic, antiamoebic, antimalarial, anticancerous, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidant, antibacterial and neuroprotective activities. But none of the reports available is corroborative to the present claim which is supported by field observation. Comprehensive review of reported ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology is done to justify the uniqueness of the present claim.