Alpinia officinarum, known as lesser galangal, is a plant in the ginger family, cultivated in Southeast Asia. It originated in China, where its name ultimately derives. It can grow 1.5 to 2 m high,[1] with long leaves and reddish-white flowers. The rhizomes, known as galangal, are valued for their sweet spicy flavor and aromatic scent. These are used throughout Asia in curries and perfumes, and were previously used widely in Europe.[citation needed] They are also used as a herbal remedy.
The genus is named for Prospero Alpini, a 17th-century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants. The word "galangal" comes from the Arabic form of a Chinese word for the plant, "高良薑" ("gou-loeng-goeng" in Cantonese, "gao-liang-jiang" in Mandarin).[2][3] In Tamil it is known as a "சிற்றரத்தை or சித்தரத்தை" ("see-tha-ra-thai), widely used in Siddha Medicine and in culinaries.
Descriptionedit
This herbaceous plant can grow up to 2 metres in height. The leaves are lanceolate (long and thin), and the flowers are white with streaks of red, growing from a spike at the top. The plant's rhizomes, the part known as galangal, are thin and tough, and they are the principal reason the plant is cultivated. They have orange flesh with a brown coating, and have an aromatic odor and a sweet flavor. These are smaller than greater galangal which have a stronger peppery pine-like bite that is lacking in the sweeter rhizomes of lesser galangal.[2][3]
Usesedit
The galangal rhizomes were widely used in ancient and medieval Europe, where they were reputed to smell of roses and taste of sweet spice.[2] Its use in Europe has dramatically declined.
In Asia the rhizomes are ground to powder for use in curries, drinks, and jellies.[2] In India an extract is used in perfumes, and Tatars prepare a tea with it.[3]
Alpinia officinarum contains high concentrations of the flavonolgalangin.[4] Historically, the rhizomes were reputed to have stimulant and digestive effects.[2]
Distributionedit
Lesser galangal is native to China, growing mainly on the southeastern coast, including Hainan, and is also grown in Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.[2][5] It is also cultivated in India. Hong Kong is the commercial center for the sale and distribution of the lesser galangal.[2]
Common name confusionedit
Although the common name "lesser galangal" most appropriately refers to Alpinia officinarum, it is sometimes misapplied to other plants, such as Kaempferia galanga, which has a peppery camphorous taste and is used in Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. Cyperus longus is sometimes referred to as "galingal", and has similar uses, with spicy, starchy rhizomes used in cooking.[2]Boesenbergia rotunda, also called Chinese ginger or fingerroot, is sometimes also referred to as "lesser galangal".
^ abcdefghGualtiero Simonetti (1990). Stanley Schuler (ed.). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN978-0-671-73489-3.
^ abcGrieve, M. "Galangal". From A Modern Herbal, 1931.
^Ciolino, H. P.; Yeh, G. C. (1999). "The flavonoid galangin is an inhibitor of CYP1A1 activity and an agonist/antagonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor". British Journal of Cancer. 79 (9/10): 1340–1346. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6690216. PMC2362711. PMID 10188874.
^Nguyễn Tiến Bân (2005). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam. Tập III (in Vietnamese). Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp. p. 490.
External linksedit
Alpinia officinarum Hance Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Chinese)(in English)
高良薑, Lesser Galangal Rhizome, Gao Liang Jiang Chinese Medicine Specimen Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Chinese)(in English)
November 10, 2023
alpinia, officinarum, known, lesser, galangal, plant, ginger, family, cultivated, southeast, asia, originated, china, where, name, ultimately, derives, grow, high, with, long, leaves, reddish, white, flowers, rhizomes, known, galangal, valued, their, sweet, sp. Alpinia officinarum known as lesser galangal is a plant in the ginger family cultivated in Southeast Asia It originated in China where its name ultimately derives It can grow 1 5 to 2 m high 1 with long leaves and reddish white flowers The rhizomes known as galangal are valued for their sweet spicy flavor and aromatic scent These are used throughout Asia in curries and perfumes and were previously used widely in Europe citation needed They are also used as a herbal remedy Alpinia officinarumScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsClade CommelinidsOrder ZingiberalesFamily ZingiberaceaeGenus AlpiniaSpecies A officinarumBinomial nameAlpinia officinarumHanceSynonymsLanguas officinarum Hance P H Ho Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Uses 4 Distribution 5 Common name confusion 6 References 7 External linksEtymology editThe genus is named for Prospero Alpini a 17th century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants The word galangal comes from the Arabic form of a Chinese word for the plant 高良薑 gou loeng goeng in Cantonese gao liang jiang in Mandarin 2 3 In Tamil it is known as a ச ற றரத த or ச த தரத த see tha ra thai widely used in Siddha Medicine and in culinaries Description editThis herbaceous plant can grow up to 2 metres in height The leaves are lanceolate long and thin and the flowers are white with streaks of red growing from a spike at the top The plant s rhizomes the part known as galangal are thin and tough and they are the principal reason the plant is cultivated They have orange flesh with a brown coating and have an aromatic odor and a sweet flavor These are smaller than greater galangal which have a stronger peppery pine like bite that is lacking in the sweeter rhizomes of lesser galangal 2 3 Uses editThe galangal rhizomes were widely used in ancient and medieval Europe where they were reputed to smell of roses and taste of sweet spice 2 Its use in Europe has dramatically declined In Asia the rhizomes are ground to powder for use in curries drinks and jellies 2 In India an extract is used in perfumes and Tatars prepare a tea with it 3 Alpinia officinarum contains high concentrations of the flavonol galangin 4 Historically the rhizomes were reputed to have stimulant and digestive effects 2 Distribution editLesser galangal is native to China growing mainly on the southeastern coast including Hainan and is also grown in Japan Thailand and Vietnam 2 5 It is also cultivated in India Hong Kong is the commercial center for the sale and distribution of the lesser galangal 2 Common name confusion editAlthough the common name lesser galangal most appropriately refers to Alpinia officinarum it is sometimes misapplied to other plants such as Kaempferia galanga which has a peppery camphorous taste and is used in Indonesia Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries Cyperus longus is sometimes referred to as galingal and has similar uses with spicy starchy rhizomes used in cooking 2 Boesenbergia rotunda also called Chinese ginger or fingerroot is sometimes also referred to as lesser galangal References edit Alpinia officinarum Lesser Galangal Bamboo Land Nursery QLD Australia Bamboo Land a b c d e f g h Gualtiero Simonetti 1990 Stanley Schuler ed Simon amp Schuster s Guide to Herbs and Spices Simon amp Schuster Inc ISBN 978 0 671 73489 3 a b c Grieve M Galangal From A Modern Herbal 1931 Ciolino H P Yeh G C 1999 The flavonoid galangin is an inhibitor of CYP1A1 activity and an agonist antagonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor British Journal of Cancer 79 9 10 1340 1346 doi 10 1038 sj bjc 6690216 PMC 2362711 PMID 10188874 Nguyễn Tiến Ban 2005 Danh lục cac loai thực vật Việt Nam Tập III in Vietnamese Ha Nội Nha xuất bản Nong nghiệp p 490 External links editAlpinia officinarum Hance Medicinal Plant Images Database School of Chinese Medicine Hong Kong Baptist University in Chinese in English 高良薑 Lesser Galangal Rhizome Gao Liang Jiang Chinese Medicine Specimen Database School of Chinese Medicine Hong Kong Baptist University in Chinese in English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpinia officinarum amp oldid 1174260787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
