Analysis of the essential oil from the rhizome of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. (ACREO) by a combination of GC and GC-MS revealed the presence of 1,8-cineole (42.2%), endo-fenchyl acetate (14.7%), camphene (7.6%), β-pinene (6.9%), α-terpineol (5.3%) and camphor (5.0%). Twenty-three compounds were identified in the oil. ACREO showed dose dependent myorelaxant activity in rat duodenum. The dose response curves of acetylcholine (ACh) and CaCl2 were shifted by ACREO to the right with increases in EC50 values and decreases in Vmax. These findings suggest that ACREO is a non-competitive antagonist of ACh and calcium.
BezerraM, LealCJH, CoelhoAN, CriddleDN, FontellesMC. (2000) Myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects of the essential oil of Alpinia speciosa on rat ileum. Phytotherapy Research, 14, 549–551.
7.
VieiraJEV, MatosFJA, BarresGSG, SouzaMP, MedeirosMS, MedeirosMJ. (1968) Pharmacological study of plants from north eastern Brazil. Revista Brasileria de Farmacia, 49, 67–75.
8.
MoritaM, NakakanishiH, MoritaH, MihashiS, ItokawaH. (1996) Structure and spasmolytic activities of derivatives from sesquiterpenes of Alpinia speciosa and Alpinia japonica.Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 44, 1603–1606.
9.
ShojiN, UmeyamaA, TakamotoT, OhizumiY. (1984) Isolation of a cardiotonic principle from Alpinia oxyphylla.Phytochemistry, 50, 186–187.
10.
YamaharaJ, YuHL, TamaiY. (1990) Antiulcer effect in rats of bitter cardamon constituents. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 38, 3053–3054.
11.
Al-YahyaMA, RafatullahS, MossaJS, AgcelAM, Al-SadiqMS, TariqM. (1990) Gastric antisecretory, antiulcer and cytoprotective properties of ethanolic extract of Alpinia galanga Willd. in rats. Phytotherapy Research, 4, 112–114.
12.
AhsanSK, ShahAH, TaniraMOM, AhmadMS, TariqM, AgeelAM. (1990) Studies on some herbal drugs used against kidney stones in Saudi folk medicine. Fitoterapia, 61, 435–438.
13.
TiwariA, PantAK, MathelaCS, MengiN, KohleE, BestmannHJ. (1999) Volatile constituents of Alpinia calcarata.Journal of Essential Oil Research, 11, 739–741.
14.
RoutPK, SahooS, RathSP, RaoYR. (2005) Analysis of the leaf, rhizome and root oils of two accessions of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. cultivated at Bhubaneswar. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 17, 398–400.
15.
ChoudharyJU, YusufM, HuseinMM. (2003) Composition of the rhizome oil of Alpinia calcarata.Indian Perfumer, 47, 355–357.
16.
KongLY, QuinMJ, NiwaM. (2000) Diterpenoids from rhizomes of Alpinia calcarata.Journal of Natural Products, 63, 939–942.
17.
KongLY, QinMJ, NiwaM. (2002) New cyto-toxic bislabdanic diterpeniods from Alpinia calcarata.Planta Medica, 68, 813–817.
18.
KongLY, QuinM, NiwaM. (2004) Two new bis-labdanic diterpenoids from Alpinia calcarata.Acta Botanica Sinica, 46, 159–164.
19.
RatnasooriyaWD, JayakodyJRAC. (2006) Effect of aqueous extract of Alpinia calcarata rhizomes on reproductive competence of male rats. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 57, 23–35.
20.
ArambewelaLSR, ArawwawalaLDAM, RatnasooriyaWD. (2004) Antinociceptive activities of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Alpina calcarata rhizomes in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 95, 311–316.
21.
ParanagamaPA, EkanayakeEMDS. (2004) Repellent properties from essential oil of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. against the American cockroach, Periplanata americana.Journal of the National Science Foundation of Srilanka, 32, 1–12.
22.
AdamsRP. (1995) Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy. Allured Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois, USA.
23.
MagalhaesPJC, CriddleDN, RaquelAT, MeloEM, MotaTL, Leal-CardosoJH. (1998) Intestinal myorelaxant and anti-spasmodic effects of the essential oil of Croton nepetaefolius, and its constituents cineole, methyl-eugenol and terpineol. Phytotherapy Research, 12, 172–177.
24.
Coelho-De-SouzaAN, CriddleDN, Leaf-CardosoJH. (1998) Selective modulatory effects of the essential oil of Croton zehnteneri on isolated smooth muscle preparations of guinea pig. Phytotherapy Research, 12, 189–194.
25.
MagalhaesPJC, LahlouS. (2003) Myorelaxant effects of the essential oil of Croton nepetaefolius on the contractile activity of the guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle. Planta Medica, 69, 871–874.
