Pharmacognostic Specification of Kaempferia galanga Rhizome in Thailand

Abstract

Dried rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga were collected from 15 Thai traditional drug stores of 13 provinces in four regions of Thailand for pharmacognostic specification study. Crude drug evaluations were performed by macroscopic and microscopic methods whilst constant numbers due to quality of crude drug were performed by World Health Organization (WHO) guideline standard methods. Anatomical and histological characters showed secretory sac containing volatile oil, parenchyma containing oleoresin and a numerous of starch grains. The mean contents of foreign matter, total ash, acid insoluble ash, ethanol–soluble extractive, water–soluble extractive, loss on drying, moisture and volatile oil were 0.06, 7.03, 3.75, 2.39, 16.05, 10.39, 9.62 and 0.72 % of dry weight respectively. Ethylcinnamate and p-methoxy derivative were found as major components of the volatile oil. TLC fingerprint of methanolic extracts and GC fingerprint of volatile oil of the rhizomes were demonstrated.