Ethnomedical Potentials, Phytochemicals, and Medicinal Profile of Alpinia galanga L.: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Exploration of the utilization of plant-based natural materials as raw materials for medicines is still being carried out today. Various secondary metabolite compounds from plants have been found in recent decades, one of which is Alpinia galanga L. (greater galangal). The world community has long recognized the Alpinia galanga L. plant as a raw material for traditional medicinal herbs that can help cure several diseases, such as ulcers, headaches, rheumatism, migraines, and diabetes mellitus. Knowledge of the potential of medicinal ingredients from derivatives of metabolite compounds in Alpinia galanga L. has continued in this modern era by researchers through the science of herbal medicine. Researchers have found that all parts of this plant, including leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and rhizomes, have secondary metabolite compounds that have the potential to be developed for medicine. One part that contains an abundance of secondary metabolites, such as 1,8-cineole, α-fenchyl acetate, β-farnesene, β-bisabolene, α-bergamotene, β-pinene, 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACE), galangin, phenylpropanoid, and β-sitosterol diglucoside (AG-7), is the rhizome. Research related to the bioactivity test of these secondary metabolite compounds is still being conducted by researchers to reveal other amazing potentials of Alpinia galanga L. Therefore, this review article provides information related to the ethnomedicinal profile, phytochemicals, and various medical potentials of Alpinia galanga L.