Botanical name Alpinia galanga (Linn) Wild
Family Zingiberaceae
Source Rhizomes
Origin Indonesia
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Color/Consistency Yellow to olive brown liquid
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma
Blends With Camphor and Ylang-Ylang
Product Abstract
Greater galangal grows to a height of 1.8 m and has long, elegant, blade-like leaves. The flowers are green and white with red tips. Rhizome is built up from cylindrical subunits (circular cross-section), whose pale-reddish surface is characteristically cross-striped by reddish-brown, small rings. The interior has about the same colour as the skin and is hard and woody in texture
History
The plant grows from rhizomes in clumps of stiff stalks up to 2 m in height with abundant long leaves that bear red fruit. It is native to South Asia and indonesia and cultivated in Malaysia, Laos and Thailand. A. galanga is the galangal used most often in cookery. The robust rhizome has a sharp, sweet taste and smells like a blend of Balck pepper and pine needles.The red fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has a flavor similar to cardamom.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Kulanjan Oil comes from an erect robust perennial herb. The oil is extracted through steam distillation process from the dried part of roots. Well recognized for its anti-microbial, anti-ulcer and other medicinal properties, it is useful in various lipid disorders especially atherosclerosis.
Common Usage
Caution
Dilute before use; for external use only. May cause skin irritation in some individuals; a skin test is recommended prior to use. Contact with eyes should be avoided.
Key constituents
1,8-Cineole 49.6%
b-Pinene 6.6%
a-Pinene 5.8%
a-Terpineol 5.0%
Camphene 4.6%
(þ)-Limonene 4.0%
d-Cadinene 2.5%
g-Cadinene 2.1%
Terpinen-4-ol 1.9%
p-Cymene 1.6%
(E)-a-Bergamotene 1.6%
Camphor 1.0%
Safety summary
Hazards Essential oils high in 1,8-cineole can cause CNS and breathing problems in young children.
Contraindications Do not apply to or near the face of infants or children.
Regulatory guidelines Has GRAS status.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions No information found.!
Reproductive toxicity The low reproductive toxicity of 1,8-cineole, and monoterpenes such as a-pinene and (þ)-limoneneSuggest that lesser galangaloil is not hazardous in pregnancy.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found for lesser galangal oil. 1,8-Cineole has been reported to cause serious poisoning in young children when accidentally instilled into the nose.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential Lesser galangal oil showed moderate chemopreventive activity against human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB) cells and significant activity against mouse leukemia cells, with respective IC50 values of 0.722 and 0.083 mg/mL. Galangal rhizome oil (type unspecified) significantly induces glutathione S-transferase activity in mouse tissues. The oil contains no known carcinogens. 1,8-Cineole is non-mutagenic and shows no evidence of carcinogenesis in rodents; (þ)-limonene is anticarcinogenic.
Comments
The plant is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia. Also see Maraba oil.
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