Curcuma zedoaria
Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe
Zingiberaceae.
Amomum latifolium Lam., Amomum latifolium Salisb., Amomum zedoaria Christm., Costus luteus Blanco, Costus nigricans Blanco, Curcuma malabarica Velay, Amalraj & Mural., Curcuma pallida Lour., Curcuma raktakanta Mangaly & M.Sabu, Erndlia zerumbet Giseke, Roscoea nigrociliata Hassk.
Regional Name
English : Zedoary, Hindi :Kachura, Sanskrit :Kaccura, DravidaUrdu :Zarambad, Punjabi :Kachur, Assamese :Katuri, Bengali :Sali, Ekangi, Sari, Kachura, Gujrati :Kachuro, Shatakachuro, Kannada :Kachora, Malayalam :Kachalam, Marathi :Kachora, Oriya :Kachoramu, GandhaSunthi, Karchura, Tamil :Kichili, Kizhangu, KitchilikiZhangu, PadamKizhangu, Telugu :Kachoramu, Kichili Gadda.
Rhizome.
Kachur is a large perennial herb with underground tuberous root-stock, growing Wildly in eastern Himalayas and in moist deciduous forests of the central region of Karnataka; also cultivated throughout the country. The rhizome of karchura is 2 to 6 cm long, cylindrical; transversely cut pieces 2 to 3.5 cm in dia., surface rough due to longitudinal wrinkles and occasional protuberances; nodes and internodes distinct, a few pieces bear thin root and root scars at places; colour externally grayish buff. Phytoconstituents The main constituents is Essential Oil and Resin. The oil contains mono- and sesquiterpenoids, monoterpene hydrocarbons (2.3%), oxygenated monoterpenes (26%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38%), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13.5%). α-Terpinyl acetate (8.4%), isoborneol (7%), dehydrocurdione (9%) and selina-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one (9.4%),(+)- germacrone-4, 1,8-cineole, 5-epoxide, germacrone, furanodienone, curzerenone, zederone, dehydrocurdione, curcumenol, isocurcumenol, curcumenone, curmanolide A, curmanolide.
Rasa :Katu, Tikta, Vipaka :Katu, Guna :Laghu, Tiksna, Virya :Usna, Karma :Dipana, Kaphahara, Rucya, Vatahara, Mukhavaisadyakara.
Arsa, Jvara, Jvara, Kasa, Krmi, Kustha, Vrna, Svasa, Gulma, Pliha, Galaganda.
Kachur is used in pain, inflammation, Fever, Joint pain, arthritis, wounds, skin ailments, respiratory disorders, Blood disorders, dyspepsia, colic, vomiting and cough, abdominal cramps, amenorrhea-abdominal pain, gonorrhea and rheumatic pain tones up uterus and works as an aphrodisiac agent. It improves digestion, improves liver condition, helps in regularizing menstruation, urine-related disorders and urinary tract infections, gastro-intestinal stimulant in flatulent colic and prevents stress ulceration as well.