Abstract

Md. Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan

Alpinia calcarata Rosc. (family: Zingiberaceae) is an important medicinal plant among the seven species of Alpinia that occur in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, New Guinea and the Bismark Archipelago (Chopra et al., 1986; Mangaly and Sabu, 1992). It is a perennial herb with non-tuberous pungent rootstock. Its rhizomes showed antinociceptive activities (Arambewela et al., 2004). The economically important part is rhizome, which is a major constituent of many formulations of indigenous system of medicine for relieving throat inflammation, stimulating digestion, purifying blood, improving voice and marinating youthful vigour. The rhizome extract of A. calcarata is used as an expectorant in the treatment of bronchitis and asthma for purifying blood, stimulating digestion and improving voice (Kirtikar and Basu, 1935). Drugs prepared from the rhizomes of A. calcarata are used in treatment of rheumatism, bronchial catarrh and asthma