Table Of ContentMISCELLANEOUS NOTES
14. ETHNOBOTANICAL STU—DY ANDEXSITUCONSERVATION OFALPINIA GALANGA WILLD.
A PROMISING MEDICINAL PLANT
Ethnobotany deals with studies among and is a native ofIndonesia, Malaysia and India,
tribal and indigenous peoples to record their mainly in the Eastern Himalaya and parts of
knowledge of plant wealth, and to find new southwest India. The rhizomes contain an oil,
resources ofherbal drugs, edible and other useful also called galanga oil, which has great medicinal
plants. It also includes the attitudes and impact value. The seeds are also used in medicine.
of human beings on plants in their vicinity. For Conservation of this plant would benefit
centuries, indigenous people have managed their both the ecological integrity and cultural heritage
ecosystems for sustainable as well as for medico- ofthe region, and may provide a useful model for
pharmaceutical purposes. Such studies other sites. The objectives of the present study
necessitate an understanding of the strategies were: (i) to quantify and document the use of
employed to grow and harvest plants, and ofthe A. galanga in traditional medicine, and (ii) to
distribution ofmedicinal taxa along the land use develop sustainable management practices for
types in and around a community. its conservation in the field.
According to the World Health Alpinia galanga Willd. germplasm was
Organization, an estimated 3.5 billion people in collected from various places in Northeast India.
the developing world depend on plants for Data and herbarium specimens were also
primary healthcare (Balick and Cox 1996); 85% of collected. Surveys were made in 1999-2001 and
the traditional medicines in primary healthcare open-ended interviews conducted with
are derived from plants (Balick et al. 2000) and practitioners (herbalists, midwives, elders), and
nearly 75% of the drugs mentioned in various local people concerning plant use. Information
pharmacopoeia are growing in India. Many people was obtained from farmers, community members
rely on medicinal plants because of their and curio sellers. We observed the use of plant
effectiveness, a lack of modern medical parts in several tribal villages, and displays at
alternatives and traditional cultural preference. roadside stalls.
Ethnobotanical studies acquired priority because A standard exploration schedule was
knowledge of native populations and their designed with the help of language translators
environment was threatened, while ethno- who assisted during the trip. Collections of
medical uses are documented for only c. 28% germplasm were made with the help oflocal tribals
of plants on earth (Akerele 1991, Rossato et al. and others, and the material was identified and
1999). confirmed with help from the Botanical Survey of
India has an ancient, rich and diverse India.
living tradition in the use of medicinal plants.
Northeast India possesses great biological and Results
cultural diversity, and the selection and
domestication ofplants for use in herbal medicine Field surveys forAlpiniagalanga in 1 999-
is ongoing. 2000 revealed that this plant grows wild only
Alpinia galanga, commonly known as around Imphal, Mao and Maran areas, Ukrul and
Greater Galanga (English), Kulanjan (Hindi, adjoining areas, and around Laithang in Manipur.
Sanskrit), or Kanghu (Manipuri), grows wild in It was also found growing in tribal kitchen
the Manipur Hills. It is a little known, rare, gardens. Field trips during 2000-2001 were,
herbaceous perennial ofthe family Zingiberaceae therefore, confined to these regions.
638 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, I00(2&3), AUG.-DEC. 2003
,
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Ethnographic background distinctly clawed, 5-6 cm, basal glands ascending,
Manipur is the easternmost state in the white striated with red, linear subulated, exterior
m m
northeastern hill region ofIndia at 51 to 2,500 limb ofcorolla with 3 subequal recurved divisions,
above msl. Almost one-tenth ofthe area is covered interior one unguiculate, oval, deeply bilobed.
by valleys, and the rest, hills. This temperate to Stamens: Arcuate, shorter than tip. Ovules: 1-2
subalpine area is inhabited mainly by Kuki, in acell. Fruits: Orange red, 1 .25 cm long, obovate,
Tangkhul, Rongmai, Naga, Paite, Marh, Mao, smooth. Seed: Globose or angled, much
Maran and Thangal tribals. Often, within small compressed, deep chestnut coloured, a little
contiguous areas, there live many tribal wrinkled, arillate except at the apex.
communities, which differ markedly in Phenology: F. April to June; Fr. November
socioeconomic and cultural values, isolated by to December.
language, cultural barriers and poor Propagation: Wild populations ofAlpinia
communication due to the difficult hilly terrain. galanga Willd. reproduce vegetatively through
The remote tribal areas have practically no rhizomes.
organised medical facility. The high cost of Distribution: Native to Indonesia,
antibiotics, pharmaceuticals and specialised Malaysia and India, mainly in the eastern
healthcare enforces local dependence on Himalaya, Western Ghats and southwest India.
traditional medicine.
The only difficulty in this work was that Utilisation by Manipuri tribals
the tribals do not disclose easily the secret ofthe The faintly aromatic, pungent and
plants they use for medicinal and other purposes. somewhat bitter tubers are used as a substitute
They believe that the curative properties of the for ginger. A. galanga rhizomes are ground, and
plant would be lost ifthey do so. They disclose used in their normal diet. The plant is believed to
these secrets only to their kith and kin, and that improve the appetite, and the taste of food. It
too, when they are near death. Much patience stimulates blood circulation and has a good taste.
was required to win the confidence ofthe people It is used in bronchitis, dyspepsia and heart
to collect data. disease. The juice of the rhizomes is used as a
A
disinfectant and freshener. decoction is taken
Botanical description after childbirth.
Root: Perennial, tuberous, slightly It is also variously used as stomachic,
aromatic, deep orange-brown, pungent, bitter. aphrodisiac, tonic, diuretic, expectorant, and for
Rhizomes: Slightly aromatic like ginger, reddish rheumatic pain, sore throat, sour eructation,
brown, internally reddish white. Stem: stuttering, chest pain, diabetes, and to alleviate
Pseudostem, elongated, 200-250 cm. Leaves: 30- tubercular glands, and diseases of the kidney.
40 cm x 10-15 cm, green, glossy on both sides, Galanga oil, extracted from the rhizomes of
oblong, short-stalked, lanceolate, smooth. the plant, is believed to have antitumor, anti-
Inflorescence: Panicles copiously compound, ulcer, anticaliculi, antibiotic and fungicidal
branched, densely flowered, 15-30 cm long, rachis properties.
densely pubescent, and branches short. Flowers: Seeds are considered calefacient alterative,
About 3 cm long, greenish white, in compound stomachic, sternutatory, beneficial in colic,
dense bunches, pedicles 0.8-1.25 cm, bracts diarrhoea and vomiting. Fungal infections on the
small, ovate, flowers small. Calyx: Greenishwhite, skin are treated with seed paste, as it contains
1.25 cm, oblique at the throat, smooth, one- the fungicidal, diterpene. It is also believed to
toothed. Corolla: Segments 0.8-1.25 cm, lip have cytotoxic properties.
JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 100(2&3), AUG.-DEC. 2003 639
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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Exsitu conservation and management perhectare. However, extrapolating from one year
Rhizomes of wild plant populations were old plants inthe experimental plots and the average
collected and brought to the experimental farm of weight ofthe rhizomes, it was estimated to be a
NBPGR Regional Station, Barapani. They were potential yield of 35 tonnes per hectare, which
divided into small pieces containing 2-3 emerging may increase on optimising a cultivation package.
buds, weighing 60-80 g each. While still fresh, Dried rhizomes ofA. galanga were being sold in
they were planted at a depth of about 5 cm in the local market of Manipur, and also in Delhi.
raised nursery beds, 2.7 m x 2.1 m. Row-to-row The marketprice was Rs. 22-25 per kg.
distance ofthe raised beds was 45 cm and plant- Alpinia galanga Willd. is an easily
to-plant distance within a row was 30 cm. Eighty- cultivable potential medicinal plant. Ifcultivated
four raised beds were made, each containing 42 commercially, it can make a good cash crop. It
sample rhizomes, i.e. a total of3,528 plants were may be pointed out that development of
grown in the experimental nursery. The following agrotechniques for the commercial cultivation of
observations were made on one year old plants: this plant will benefit the farming community and
Germination percentage of rhizomes was other tribals in northeast India and provide them
i)
almost 100%. witha source ofincome.
Average number ofculms per plant was 22.
ii)
VERMA
Average height ofthe one year old plant was June 8, 2002 *N.K.
iii)
SHARMA
A.
115 cm.
SINGH
iv) Average fresh weight ofthe rhizome per one P.K.
KUMAR
year old plant was 450 g. P.
D.K.HORE
v) Rate of multiplication per plant was 10 per
NBPGR
year, i.e. rhizomes fromayearold plantyielded Regional Station, Barapani,
10 pieces for replanting. Shillong 793 103, Meghalaya, India.
*Present address: NIPER,
Economic potential Department ofBiotechnology,
Based on the average weight of rhizomes Sector 67, Phase 10, SAS Nagar,
from one year old wild plants in kitchen gardens, Mohali, Punjab 160 062,
and those cultivated, the average yield of the India.
rhizomes was calculated to be around 25 tonnes Email: [email protected]
E N C E S
&
Akerele, 0.(1991): The conservation ofmedicinal plants. A.F. Berman, B. Connor, M. Roble, P. Lohr
Cambridge University Press. U.K.. Pp. 22-51. D. Atha (2000): Medicinal plants used by Latino
Balick, M.J. & P.A. Cox (1996): Plants, people and Healers for woman’s health conditions in New
culture: the science ofethnobotany. Freeman and York City. Economic Botany 54: 344-357.
Co., Scientific American Library, New York. Rossato, S.L., H.D.F.L. Filho & A. Begossi (1999):
Pp. 57-58. Ethnobotany of Caicaras of the Atlantic Forest
Balick, M.J., F. Korenberg, A.L. Osoki, M. Reiff, Coast (Brazil). Economic Botany 53: 387-395.
Printed by Bro. Leo at St. Francis Industrial Training Institute, Borivli, Mumbai 400 103 and
published on September 23, 2003, by J.C. Daniel for BombayNatural History Society,
Hombill House, Dr. SalimAli Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 023.
website: www.bnhs.org; email: [email protected]
