Galangal Root

September 23, 2017

Galangal root is a type of rhizome that is in the ginger family. In southwest asia it is used as a spice that is commonly added to redang, a type of stew prepared in Indonesia and to curry paste used in Thailand. The fruit of the plant is used in the Russian liquer nastoika.

 

In medicinal uses, there are two parts of the Alpinia galangal plant used.

Fruit

The dried fruit is known as Hong Dou Kou. Two major compounds have been extracted and studied extensively – 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA-1) and 1’acetoxyeugenol (ACA-2).

ACA-1 shows anti-neoplastic activity against the cell line sarcoma 180 in vivo in a mouse model. In vitro anti-cancer activity was noted against cervical cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and some myeloid, leukemia cells. In addition, ACA-1 showed inhibitory action against the formation of skin cancer in mice. This is done by inhibiting the pho-p65 NF-kB. It is active against breast cancer by downregulation MMP-2 and MMP-9 via the SHP-1/STAT3/MMP pathway.

References

Cancer Inhibitors from Chinese Natural Medicines, p.277-9