Vol. 3, Special Issue 3, Part B (2017)

Abstract
Alpinia galanga (Linn.) Willd belonging to family Zingiberaceae is used medicinally, as a condiment and as a source of an essential oil. Dried rhizome of this plant constitutes the drug. It is used as tonic deodorant and disinfectant. The drug is depressant of the cardio-vascular system. It is mostly used for curing bronchial catarrh, respiratory complaints, rheumatism, for controlling urine and in diabetics. The genus Alpinia galanga (Linn.) Willd is characterized by well developed, unicellular, unbranched root hairs. The microscopic characters of rhizome petiole and leaf were studied. It showed that drug mainly consists of stomata, starch grains, fibers, vessels and volatile oil, resins, tannins and glycosides. Due to reserve food starch and oil rhizome are edible and due to presence of secondary metabolites such as tannins, resins, oils and glycosides rhizomes and other parts are used medicinally.