CONSERVATION OF ZINGIBERACEOUS PLANTS IN ORISSA

Abstract

Species belonging to the family Zingiberaceae are of considerable economic
importance. Turmeric (CurClima domestica), mango ginger (Curcuma amada),
ginger (Zingiber officinale), small cardamum (Elettaria cardamomum) and large
cardamum (Amo11lwn subulatum) are very important spices. These are also used
in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Alpinia oil has uses in perfumery,
pharmaceuticaL food and flavouring industries. In tribal areas plant parts of
some Zingiberaceous species are used as carminative ~nd an antidote to
snakebites. Pharmaceutical studies in Zingiberaceous plants show that ginger
rhizomes are effective for intestinal disorders (Krishnamurty and Sreenivasamurthy,
1956) and salivary secretion for stimulating the vasometer and respiratory
centres (Ally, 1961), for relaxing the tracheae and ileal smooth muscles (Reiter
and Brandt, 1985) and for lowering serum and hepatic cholesterol levels (Gujral
et aI., 1978). Recent investigations also indicate that pungent principles of
ginger rhizomes, such as gingerols and shagaols, have pharmacological actions
(Shoji et aI., 1982, Suekawa et al