Phytochemical and phramacognostic parameters for evaluation of the rhizomes of Curcuma amada Roxb.

. Mango ginger is cultivated in Gujarat and found wild in parts of West Bengal, U. P, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The rhizomes are useful in vitiated conditions of pitta, anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, bruises, wounds, chronic ulcers, skin diseases, pruritus, fever, constipations, strangury, hiccough, cough, bronchitis, sprains, gout, halitosis, otalgia, cooling, appetiser, carminative, digestive, stomachic, demulcent, vulnerary, febrifuge, alexertic, aphrodisiac, laxative, diurectic, expectorant, antiinflammatory and antipyretic 3 . The rhizomes are used externally in the form of paste as an application for bruises and skin diseases generally combined with other medicines 4 . Curcuma amada Roxb. is a unique spice having morphological resemblance to ginger. The main use of mango ginger rhizome is in the manufacture of pickles, as a source of raw mango flavour for foods and for therapeutic purpose. Ayurveda, the oldest system of medicine in India, has given importance to rhizome as an appetizer, alexiteric, antipyretic, aphrodisiac and laxative. It is also used in treatment of biliousness, itching, skin diseases, bronchitis, asthma, hiccups and inflammation due to injuries. According to Unani systems of medicine, it is a diuretic, maturant, emollient, expectorant, antipyretic and appetizer. It is useful against inflammation in the mouth, ear, as well as gleet, ulcers on the male sex organs, scabies, lumbago and stomatitis 5-8 . The fresh rhizome is composed of moisture (86%), ash (0.8), sugars (0.8%), fibers (1.4%), essential oil (0.1 %) and starch (6.9%) consisting of amylase (43%) 9 . The fresh root possesses the smell of green mango and hence the name mango ginger. Not any specific type of data is available to identify and to ensure quality of Curcuma amada Roxb. Therefore, the present work may give contribution in the various pharmacognostical and phytochemical parameters for authentication and quality control of commercial samples of crude drug.