Ginger lily | Red ginger proven benefits and uses

Scientific names	Common names
Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.	Luyang pula (Tag.)
Alpinia grandis K. Schum.	Alpinia jungle king (Engl.)
Guillainia novo-ebudica F.Muell	Ginger lily (Engl.)
Guillainia purpurata Vieill.	Ostrich plume (Engl.)
Languas purpurata (Vieill.) Kaneh	Red ginger (Engl.)
Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K.Schum. is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names

CHINESE: Hong guo shan jiang.

SAMOAN: Teuila.

Ginger lily or Red ginger is a rhizomatous perennial, leafy herb forming large clumps, growing to 3-4 meters tall. Leaves are lanceolate, glabrous. Inflorescence is a terminal spike, often pendulous, showy, up to 90 centimeters long. Flowers are small, white, 1 or 2 , arising from the red bracts of the spike, 2.5 centimeters long. Fruit is a capsule. Pseudostems formed by leaf sheaths emerge from underground rhizomes.

Distribution

– Ornamentally cultivated.

– Widely cultivated and naturalized in the tropics.

Chemical Constituents of Red Ginger or Ginger lily

– Subextracts of leaves yielded a mixture of C28-C32 fatty alcohols, a 3-methoxyflavone and two steroid glycosides. The two latter metabolites were identified as kumatakenin, stiosteryl-3-O-6-palmitoyl-ß-D-glucoside and ß-sitosteryl galactoside. (6)

– Essential oil of A. purpurata leaves and flowers yield a predominance of α-pinene, β-pinene and 1,8 cineol.

– Study of essential oil of inflorescences showed A. purpurata to be composed mainly by mono- and sesquiterpenes. The major compounds were ß-pinene and α-pinene, trans-caryophyllene, camphene, and 7-epi-α-selinene. (17)

– Phytochemical evaluation of an n-hexane leaf extract yielded alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, cardioglycosides, oils and fats, tannins and carbohydrates. (18)

– GC-MS analysis of n-hexane leaf extract yielded 4-morpholinomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin (1.42%), methanesulfonate of (3R,4S)-3-propargyloxy-4-[(R)-1-hydroxy-3-phenyl-3-butenyl]-1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone (2.28%), 5-butyl-3-methyl-1,2,3, 8a-tetrahydroindolizine (6.48%), phenol, 4-(3,7-dimethyl-3-ethenylocta-1,6-dienyl)- (6.99%), 1-naphthalenepropanol, α-ethenyldeca hydro-α,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-2-methylene-[1S-[1α (R*),4aα, 8aà]]-(9.29%), methenolone (10.93%), and nonanamide, 5-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-(2-methylpropyl)-N-benzyl-(25.80%). (18)

– Study of flowers by GC/MS yielded 42 essential oil components with a-pinene, ß-pinene, and ß-caryophyllene as major constituents. (20)

– α-Pinene, β-pinene and 1,8 cineol predominate predominate in the essential oil of leaves and flowers. (21)

– Study of hydroalcoholic crude extract of dried leaves for total phenols using gallic acid as standard yielded 15.6 mg GAE g-1. Flavonoids kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide and rutin were found in higher concentrations in EA and butanolic extracts. (22)

Properties of Red ginger or ginger lily

– Studies suggest antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, anticancer and vasodilating properties.

Parts used

Bark, fruit, leaves and seeds.

Uses
Folkloric traditional benefits and uses of Red ginger or ginger lily

– In the West Indies, used for stomach complaints.

– In Trujillo, Venezuela, oral use of boiled inflorescence used to treat cough symptoms. (21)

Scientific studies on health benefits and uses of Red ginger or ginger lily

• Flavonoids / Leaves:

Study evaluated a hydroalcoholic extract of A. purpurata obtained from dried leaves. The flavonoids kaemferol-3-O-glucoronide and rutin were detected at higher concentration in the EA and butanolic extracts, with the latter showing highest flavonoid percentage (94.3%). (1)

• Volatile Oils / Leaves and Flowers:

The major components of leaf oil of A. purpurata were 1,8-cineole, ß-pinene and (E)-methyl cinnamate; the oil from the flowers was dominated by ß-pinene and a-pinene. (2)

• Vasodilator Activity:

Study of extracts for vasodilator effects showed they were able to induce long-lasting endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Study showed a better vasodilator effect than control, results in agreement with the quantification of phenolic compounds in the extracts. It presents a possible natural source for bioactive compounds useful for the treatment of hypertension. (4)

• Antimycobacterial:

Study evaluated hexane and dichlormethane subextracts of leaves for antimycobacterial activity. In addition to anti-inflammatory activity, study also describes the phytochemical potential to treat tuberculosis. (see constituents above) (6)

• Antimicrobial:

Study evaluated three solvent extracts of leaves, roots, and rhizomes for in vitro activity against six strains of bacteria and four pathogenic fungi. Ethanolic extract of rhizomes showed wide spectrum of activity against all tested bacteria, with notable activity only with Candida albicans. (7)

• Anticancer / Antioxidant:

Study evaluated an ethylacetate extract of AP for potential in-vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity. Results showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. The extract showed potential anticancer activity at 48 hours with IC50 of 130.20 g.ml-1 with a dose-dependent decrease in cell count for all concentrations tested. (8)

• Antioxidant:

Study evaluated the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata. Results showed the potential to scavenge free radicals and protect against oxidative stress causing diseases. (9)

Study suggest ethanolic extract of Alpinia purpurata prevent oxidative damage in normal cells through its antioxidant property. (13)

• Novel CXC Chemokine Receptor-4 Inhibitors:

CXCR4 is the receptor for chemokine, CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor-1, SDF-1) involved in problematic diseases like AIDS, cancer cell metastasis, leukemia cell progression and rheumatoid arthritis. Study aimed to identify the novel CXCR4 inhibitors from bioactive compounds in an EA extract of A. purpurata by GC-MS analysis. The EA extract yielded 32 bioactive compounds, some of which shows the better glide score compared with Cyclophosphamide (FDA approved drug). Results suggest the bioactive compounds may act as novel inhibitors for CXCR4. (10)

• Antibacterial:

Study evaluated various extracts of leaves, roots, and rhizomes of Alpinia purpurata for antibacterial activity. Ethanol extracts of leaves and roots showed highest inhibition zone against E. coli and Lactobacillus. (12)

• Vascular Reactivity / Acute Hypotensive Effect / Leaves:

Study evaluated the chemical profile, vascular reactivity, and acute hypotensive effect (AHE) of ethanolic extract of leaves of A. purpurata. Results showed a vasodilation action partially mediated by nitric oxide. Rutin-like flavonoids were quantified in the EEAP (1.8 ± 0.03%), and the total flavonoid and polyphenol rations were 4.1 ± 1.8% and 5.1 ± 0.3%, respectively. (14)

• Antibacterial / Anti-Cancer / Leaves:

Study evaluated phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and anticancer activity of A. purpurata leaves. The EA extract of leaves showed antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition from 5 to 14 mm at various concentrations. It also showed potential anticancer activity against PA1 ovarian cancer cell line with half MIC value of 110.25 µg/mL and dose-dependent decrease in cell count for all concentrations tested. (16)

• Essential Oil Toxicity to Maize Weevil:

Study evaluated the toxicity of essential oil from Alpinia purpurata inflorescences to Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil). No toxicity was noted when applied directly on the cuticle of insects. It showed toxicity to adult insects through fumigation with LC50 of 41.4 µL/L in air. (see constituents above) (17)

• Antioxidant / Cytotoxic / Apoptotic:

Study evaluated a n-hexane leaf extract for antioxidant, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activities. Results showed antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, reducing power and ferric reducing activity. In MTT assay, the extract inhibited HeLa cells in a dose dependent manner with IC50 of 41.25 µg/ml. Morphological changes suggested apoptotic activity in HeLa cells. (19)

• Larvicidal / Antibacterial / Essential Oil / Flowers:

Oils from red and pink variants showed potent larvicidal activities against 4th instar Aedes aegypti with IC50 values of 80.7 and 71.5 ppm, respectively. Aqueous extracts of the two variants were active against dengue mosquito larvae (IC50 18.3 and 12.6%, respectively). Oils and aqueous extracts showed significant oviposition deterrent effects. Oil from the red cultivar showed significant inhibition of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial growth. (see constituents above) (20)

Caution / Interactions:

• Ginger supplements should be avoided by those with known allergy to ginger or other Zingiberaceae family members, including Alpinia purpurata.

• It has been suggested pregnant women should avoid ginger in the excessive amounts (more than 1 gram dry weight per day). The German Commission E recommends avoidance during pregnancy due to its possible inhibition of testosterone binding in the fetus. It should not be used for nausea of pregnancy and should be avoided by pregnant women with a history of bleeding disorders and miscarriages. (see: Luya)

• Ginger decreases platelet adhesiveness and should be used with caution by people on anticoagulant therapy.

• Increase Stomach Acid: Alpinia can increase stomach acid by decrease the effectiveness of antacids, H2-blockers (Pepcid, Axid, Zantac, Tagamet) and proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix, etc.) (23)

Availability

– Wildcrafted.

– Ornamental cultivation.

– Seeds in the cybermarket.