Temu lawak

Temu lawak
Temulawak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Subdivision: Angiospermae
Class: Monocotyledoneae
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Species: Curcuma xanthorrhiza ROXB.
Binomial name
Curcuma xanthorrhiza
L.

Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza ROXB.) is a plant species, belonging to the Ginger family.[1] It is known in Javanese as temulawak, in Sundanese as koneng gede and in Madurese as temu labak.[1]

This plant originated from Indonesia, more specifically from Java island, out of which it spread to several places in the ​​biogeographical region Malesia. Currently, most of the temu lawak is cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.[2] Outside of South East Asia, cultivars may be found also in China, Indochina, Barbados, India, Japan, Korea, the United States and some countries in Europe.

Curcuma xanthorrhiza flourishes up to 1500 m above sea level in a tropical climate.[2] Its rhizomes develop well in loose soil.[3]

Curcuma xanthorrhiza is used as a medicinal plant. The rhizome contains an ethereal oil (5ml per kg), it primarily consists of Sesquiterpenes. There is also a content of Curcumin (at least 1%, Ph. Eur.) and starch. Curcuma xanthorrhiza is used for dyspepsia. It is a spice too.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Mahendra, B: “13 Jenis Tanaman Obat Ampuh”, page 95. Penebar Swadaya, 2005
  2. ^ a b Rukmana, R: “Temu-Temuan”, page 14. Kanisius, 2004
  3. ^ Hidayat, S. dan Tim Flona: “Khasiat Tumbuhan Berdasar Warna, Bentuk, Rasa, Aroma, dan Sifat”, page 105. PT Samindra Utama, 2008
  4. ^ Bettina Rahfeld: Mikroskopischer Farbatlas pflanzlicher Drogen, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, 2009. ISBN 978-3-8274-1951-4.
Stub icon This Zingiberales-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.