A review on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of plant species belonging to Kaempferia L. genus (Zingiberaceae)

Abstract

Kaempferia L. is a genus commonly distributed in Asian countries including China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, where these species are popularly used as traditional medicines for different ailments comprising infective diseases, wound infection, cough, pain and digestiondisorders on chemical composition of Kaempferia plants revealed the presence of natural compounds classified in monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolicglycosides, cyclohexane oxide derivatives, diarylheptanoids and essential oil with various biological properties, which are valuable for discovery of new natural-derived therapeutic drugs and applications for the human beings. This study is aimed to review the chemical, ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of the plants belonging to Kaempferia genus growing in Asian countries and especially in South East Asia.