Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Curcuma angustifolia: An updated Review
*Nidhi Likhitkar
Department of Botany, Sam Global University, Raisen Road, Bhopal-464551 (India)
ABSTRACT
Curcuma angustifolia Roxb., also known as East Indian arrowroot, is characterized by the presence of narrow, green, glabrous leaves with small inflorescences bearing yellow flowers with pink coma bracts distributed throughout India and Asian countries. The starch from the plant has been a rich source of food product used ethnobotanically. The objective of the present review is to compile and update the published data on traditional uses, pharmacological potential, and phytochemistry of compounds isolated from the plant C. angustifolia. The leaf, flowers and rhizomes of the plant find utility in several pharmacological actions like anticancer, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-ulcer. The starch obtained from the plant is also used as a rich source of food. Many phytochemicals have been identified from C. angustifolia and many more are yet to be identified and isolated. Further investigations to confirm the underlying mechanisms by which the extracts of phytoconstituents of C. angustifolia elicit the pharmacological actions is warranted.