PLANT
IMAGES
Photos
WEB
RESOURCES
Shell-Flower
Medline Abstracts
PLANTS DB
W³TROPICOS DB
FNA DB
USF DB
GRIN DB
ITIS DB
Raintree's
Rainforest
Mission
Home Page
Company Mission
Philosophy
Plant Harvesting
Plant Images
Rainforest Products
Rainforest Gallery
Rainforest Facts
Article Section
Rainforest Links
Other Links
Print Brochure
Print Order Form
Contact Us
Search Site
Privacy Policy
Conditions of Use
Free Service
|
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Alpinia
Species: zerumbet
Synonyms: Alpinia speciosa, Alpinia nutans, Costus zerumbet, Catimbium speciosum, Languas speciosa, Zerumbet speciosum
Common name: boca de dragon, colonia, de tui maux, getto, jockey club, light galangal, palo santo, pink porcelain-lily, shellflower, shell ginger, tous maux
Part Used: leaves, rhizome
| Shell-Flower |
| HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS |
| Main Actions |
Other Actions |
Standard Dosage |
| lowers blood pressure |
relieves pain |
Rhizome |
| kills bacteria |
kills insects |
Decoction |
| kills fungi |
relieves spasms |
|
| kills candida |
reduces pain |
|
| reduces pain |
antioxidant |
|
Shell-flower is in the ginger family and is native tropical China, Japan, India, Indo-China, Cambodia, Thailand Vietnam, and Malaysia. It is widely cultivated and distributed in most tropical and semi-tropical areas including Brazil, Peru, the Amazon, and the U. S. (Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico). This plant is an evergreen tropical perennial that grows in upright clumps to 8-10' tall in tropical climates. It produces fleshy rhizomes much like ginger that have a ginger-like aroma. Shell-flower was first botanically referred to as Alpinia speciosa but has been standardized A. zerumbet. This beautiful tropical plant is becoming a popular tropical house plant as well as a landscape plant in warmer climates. Various cultivars can now be found for sale in U.S. nurseries and plant stores under the common name "variegated ginger."
Shell-flower is commonly called shell ginger or shellflower because its individual shell pink flowers, particularly when in bud, resemble sea shells. It is distinguished from other members of the ginger family by the fact that its flowers droop from the ends of leafy stems rather than rise directly from plant rhizomes. The fragrant flowers are waxy; light pink flower buds open to tubular flowers with yellow inside lips and red throats. The plant produces lance-shaped green leaves to 2' long and 5" wide.
TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES
In Brazilian herbal medicine the essential oil of the leaf is used for high blood pressure and as a heart tonic. In other parts of the world the plant is considered balsamic, diuretic, and stomachic and traditionally used for colds and flu, fevers, flatulence, stomach problems and indigestion.
PLANT CHEMICALS
Some of the active compounds found in shell-flower include: 1'-acetoxy-eugenol-acetate, 1'-acetoxychavicol-acetate, bassorin, cadinene, camphor, caryophyllene-oxide, caryophyllenol-I, caryophyllenol-II, cineole, d-pinene, dihydro-5,6-dehydrokawain, eugenol, galangin, kaempferide, methyl-cinnamate, phlobaphen, trans-3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl, trans-4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, and trans-4-methoxycinnamyl.
|
WORLDWIDE ETHNOMEDICAL USES
|
| Brazil |
hypertension, heart tonic |
| Elsewhere |
as a balsamic, diuretic, and stomachic; for colds and flu, fevers, flatulence, stomach problems and indigestion |
| SHELL-FLOWER PLANT SUMMARY |
Main Actions (in order):
hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), stomachic (aids digestion), antimicrobial, febrifuge (reduces fever), analgesic (reduces pain)
Main Uses:
- as a heart tonic and for high blood pressure
- as a digestive aid for stomach upset, indigestion and intestinal gas
- for colds, flu and fever
- as a mild diuretic
- for candida and fungal conditions
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:
analgesic, antibacterial, anticandidal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, antispasmodic, antiulcerous, diuretic, hypotensive, insecticidal, muscle relaxant, uterine stimulant
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:
balsamic, cardiotonic, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, and stomachic
Cautions: It stimulates the uterus and is contraindicated in pregnancy. It may also increase the effectiveness of medications used to treat hypertension.
|
This text and plant database file has been authored by Leslie Taylor, copyrighted © 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, including websites, without written permission.
† The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. The information contained in this plant
database file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not
intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease.
Please refer to our Conditions of Use for using this plant database file and web site.
Published Third-Party Research on Shell-Flower
All available third-party research on shell-flower can be found at PubMed.
A partial listing of the published research on shell-flower is shown below:
Antimicrobial Actions (bacteria, fungi, candida, mycobacteria)
Sawangjaroen, N., et al. “The in vitro anti-giardial activity of extracts from plants that are used for self-medication by AIDS patients in southern Thailand.” Parasitol. Res. 2005 Jan; 95(1): 17-21.
Wang, Y., et al. “Screening of anti-Helicobacter pylori herbs deriving from Taiwanese folk medicinal plants.” FEMS. Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 2005; 43(2): 295-300.
Tawata, S., et al. “Syntheses and biological activities of dihydro-5,6-dehydrokawain derivatives. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 1996; 60(10): 1643-5.
Pooter, H., et al. “Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of leaf, stem and rhizome of Alpinia speciosa (J.C. Wendl.) K. Schum grown in Egypt.”Flavour Fragrance J. 1995; 10(2): 63-67.
Lima, E., et al. “In vitro antifungal activity of essential oils obtained from officinal plants against dermatophytes.” Mycoses.. 1993; 36(9-10): 333-6.
Prudent, D., et al. “Chemical analysis, bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties of the essential oil of the atoumau from Martinique (Alpinia speciosa K. Schum.).” J. Essent. Oil Res. 1993; 5 3: 255-264.
Misas, C., el al. “Contribution to the biological evaluation of Cuban plants. II.” Rev. Cub. Med. Trop. 1979; 31: 13-19.
Anti-parasitic and Insecticidal Actions
Sawangjaroen, N., et al “The anti-amoebic activity of some medicinal plants used by AIDS patients in southern Thailand.” Parasitol. Res. 2006 May; 98(6): 588-92.
Morita, D. Insecticide and bactericide made of shell flower essential oil. Patent-US- 5,110,594: 5pp-. 1992 (USA)
Medina, F. R., et al. “Terrestrial plants molluscicidal to Lymnaeid hosts of Fasciliasis hepaticain Puerto Rico.” J. Agr. Univ. Puerto Rico 1979; 63 : 366-376.
Rouquayrol, M. Z., et al. “Molluscicidal activity of essential oils from Northeastern Brazilian plants.” Rev. Brasil Pesq. Med. Biol. 1980; 13 :135-143.
Pinheiro de Sousa, M., et al. “Molluscicidal activity of plants from northeast Brazil.” Rev. Bras. Pesq. Med. Biol. 1974; (7)4: 389-394.
Hypotensive and Antiplatelet Actions:
de Moura, R.S., et al. “Antihypertensive and endothelium-dependent vasodilator effects of Alpinia zerumbet, a medicinal plant.” J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 2005 Sep;46(3):288-94.
Lahlou S, et al. “Antihypertensive effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet and its main constituent, terpinen-4-ol, in DOCA-salt hypertensive conscious rats.” Fundam. Clin. Pharmacol. 2003 Jun; 17(3): 323-30.
Lahlou, S., et al. “Cardiovascular effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet leaves and its main constituent, Terpinen-4-ol, in rats: role of the autonomic nervous system.” Planta Med. 2002; 68(12): 1097-102.
Laranja, S. M., et al. ”Evaluation of three plants with potential diuretic effect.” Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 1992 Jan-Mar; 38(1): 13-6.
Mendonca, V. L., et al. “Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Alpinia speciosa.” Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86 Suppl 2: 93-7.
Laranja, S. M., et al. “Evaluation of acute administration of natural products with potential diuretic effects, in humans.” Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86 Suppl 2: 237-40.
Teng, C. M., et al. “Antiplatelet action of dehydrokawain derivatives isolated from Alpinia speciosa rhizoma.” Chin. J. Physiol. 1990; 33(1): 41-8.
Vieira, J. E. V., et al. “Pharmacologic screening of plants from northeast Brazil. II.” Rev. Brasil Parm. 1968; 49: 67-75.
Analgesic Actions:
de Araujo, P. F., et al. “Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet on mice." Phytomedicine. 2005 Jun; 12(6-7): 482-6.
Leal-Cardoso, J. H., et al. “Effects of essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet on the compound action potential of the rat sciatic nerve.” Phytomedicine. 2004 Sep; 11(6): 549-53.
Anti-inflammatory and Antispasmodic Actions:
Jantan, I., et al. “Platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor-binding antagonist activity of Malaysian medicinal plants. Phytomedicine. 2005 Jan; 12(1-2): 88-92.
Bezerra, M. A., et al. ”Myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects of the essential oil of Alpinia speciosa on rat ileum.” Phytother. Res. 2000 Nov; 14(7): 549-51.
Antioxidant Actions:
Liao, M. C., et al. “Inhibitory effects of Alpinia speciosa K. SCHUM on the porphyrin photooxidative reaction.” J. Dermatol. 2000; 27(5): 312-7.
Masuda, T., et al. “Isolation and structure determination of new antioxidative ferulic acid glucoside esters from the rhizome of Alpinia speciosa, a Zingiberaceae plant used in Okinawan food culture.” J. Agric. Food Chem. 2000; 48(5): 1479-84.
Smooth Muscle Relaxant Actions:
Vieira, J., et al. “Pharmacologic screening of plants from northeast Brazil. II.” Rev. Brasil Parm. 1968; 49: 67-75.
Uterine Stimulant Actions:
Barros, G., et al. “Pharmacological screening of some Brazilian plants. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1970; 22 :116.
Vieira, J., et al. “Pharmacologic screening of plants from northeast Brazil. II.” Rev. Brasil Parm. 1968; 49: 67-75.
Anti-ulcer Actions:
Hsu, S. Y. “Effects of the constituents of Alpinia speciosa rhizoma on experimental ulcers.” Taiwan Yi. Xue. Hui. Za. Zhi. 1987 Jan;86(1):58-64.
Phytochemistry:
Fujita, H., et al. “The constituents of the essential oil from Alpinia speciosa K. Schum.” Yakugaku. Zasshi. 1973; 93(12): 1635-8.
Kimura, Y., et al. “Studies on the constituents of Alpinia. X. On the constituents of the rhizomata of Alpinia speciosa K. Schumann and A. kumatake Makino (A. formosana
K. Schumann).” Yakugaku. Zasshi. 1966; 86(12): 1184-6.
    
© Copyrighted 1996
to present by Raintree Nutrition, Inc., Carson City, NV 89701.
All rights reserved. Please read the Conditions of Use, Copyright Statement
and our Privacy Policy for this web page and web site.
Updated 9-4-2006
|
