Cassumunar ginger: ''Zingiber cassumunar'', now thought to be a synonym of '' Zingiber montanum'' (J.König) Link ex A.Dietr., is a species of plant in the ginger family and is also a relative of

galangal Galangal () is a common name for several tropical rhizomatous spices. Differentiation The word ''galangal'', or its variant ''galanga'' or archaically ''galingale'', can refer in common usage to the aromatic rhizome of any of four plant spec ...

. It is called ''plai'' (ไพล) in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, in addition to (ว่านไฟ ''wan-fai'') in Isan language and (ปูเลย ''bpulai'') in

northern Thai language Kam Mueang ( nod, , กำเมือง) or Northern Thai language ( th, ภาษาไทยถิ่นเหนือ) is the language of the Northern Thai people of Lanna, Thailand. It is a Southwestern Tai language that is closely rela ...

. The rhizome of variant 'Roxburgh' is used medicinally in massage and even in food in Thailand, and somewhat resembles ginger root or galangal. International Center for Science and High Technology Portal In aromatherapy, ''plai'' oil is used as an essential oil and is believed to ease pain and inflammation. It is also known as ponlei (ពន្លៃ) in Cambodia. A Japanese study from 1991 suggests (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-1-ene, an active ingredient of ''Z. cassumunar'' rhizomes, has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, an American study found that ''plai'' oil exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria,

dermatophytes Dermatophyte (from Greek '' derma'' "skin" (GEN ''dermatos'') and ''phyton'' "plant") is a common label for a group of fungus of ''Arthrodermataceae'' that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. Traditionally, these anamorphic (as ...

, and yeasts. A study also showed essential oil from ''Z. cassumunar'' had anti-microbial activity against XDR ''

Acinetobacter baumannii ''Acinetobacter baumannii'' is a typically short, almost round, rod-shaped ( coccobacillus) Gram-negative bacterium. It is named after the bacteriologist Paul Baumann. It can be an opportunistic pathogen in humans, affecting people with compromi ...

'' and synergized with medically useful antibiotics. Finally, a 1992 study discovered the zerumbone contained in the rhizomes of the plant has antifungal properties against pathogenic fungi. The plant also contains the essential oils

sabinene Sabinene is a natural bicyclic monoterpene with the molecular formula C10H16. It is isolated from the essential oils of a variety of plants including Marjoram, holm oak (''Quercus ilex'') and Norway spruce (''Picea abies''). It has a strained ...

31–48%,

terpineol Terpineol is any of four isomeric monoterpenoids. Terpenoids are terpene that are modified by the addition of a functional group, in this case, an alcohol. Terpineols have been isolated from a variety of sources such as cardamom, cajuput oil ...

4–30%, and apparently unique

curcuminoid A curcuminoid is a linear diarylheptanoid, a relatively small class of plant secondary metabolites that includes curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, all isolated from turmeric ( curcuma longa). These compounds are natural ...

antioxidants, namely cassumunarin types A, B, and C.

References

External links

Plai Page
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3779298 cassumunar Plants described in 1810 Medicinal plants of Asia Flora of Thailand