Pharmacognostic evaluation of Curcuma haritha Linn

Curcuma haritha Linn (Family: Zingiberaceae), a lesser-known medicinal zingiber, is wildly distributed in Kerala. It is common throughout the costal regions and grows along with C. caesia and C. raktakanta, but is rarely found in high altitude grasslands. It is closely related to C. aromatica, but differs in the yellowish-grey, non-aromatic rhizome, leathery, semipilicate, erect leaves, white corolla and yellow tip with a median dark yellow band. It also resembles C. raktakanta but differs from it in having green puesdostem with light pink spots, white corolla lobes and swollen placenta. A paste of rhizome is useful externally for cuts, wounds, itching and in sprains. Pharmacognostic evaluation of its rhizome showed: total ash, 7.4; acid insoluble ash, 1.5; alcohol soluble extractives, 8.50; water soluble extractives, 19.50; sugar, 5.11; starch, 42.88 and tannins, 1.78%. On hydro distillation, rhizomes and sessile tubers yield oil (0.58%).