Abstract

REVIEW ON THE MEDICINAL PLANT ZINGIBER ZERUMBET AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Yuva Kiruthiga S.*, Dr. Ranjith M, Dr. Rithika K., Dhivya N., Sathya Jasmine A.

ABSTRACT

Zingiber zerumbet, commonly known as shampoo ginger, is a perennial, rhizomatous herb belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Traditionally valued in Asian and Polynesian medicine, this plant has garnered growing attention due to its wide range of pharmacological properties. Its rhizomes are especially rich in bioactive compounds, notably zerumbone—a sesquiterpene known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and analgesic activities. Ethnobotanical evidence supports its traditional use in managing gastrointestinal ailments, fever, wound healing, and as a natural hair and scalp conditioner. In Malay cuisine, the rhizomes are frequently employed as a food flavoring agent and appetizer, while in traditional Malay medicine, extracts have been used to treat conditions such as inflammation, worm infestations, and diarrhea. Modern scientific studies have increasingly validated many of these traditional applications and have begun to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects.[11]

Keywords: Zingiberaceae; phytochemistry; zingiber zerumbet; zerumbone; sesquiterpene; flavonoids.