A review unveiling traditional uses and pharmacological potential of Hedychium spicatum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. rhizomes for asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by shortness of breath, mucus plugging, pulmonary inflammation, and apnea. Alternative systems of medicine including Ayurveda recommend the use of medic-inal plants for respiratory disorders like Asthma. The present review highlights the medicinal potential of H. spicatum in different regions such as Tamilnadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Nepal. Its rhizome is consumed traditionally in powder, decoction, and roasted form for respiratory congestion, cough, and asthma. The rhizome is mixed into well-known polyherbal products like Dabur Honitus and Zandu cough syrup used to treat respiratory indications. The literature from authentic data resources such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Medline, Hinari, and Web of Science has been referenced. Few preliminary reports on bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of H. spicatum rhi-zomes at 100-400 mg/kg on Guinea pigs were noted. Whereas, an extensive evaluation of the antioxidant action of H. spicatum employing in vitro methods inferred the most potent methanolic and aqueous extracts. The anti-inflammatory effect of rhizome in a dose range of 30-400 mg/kg on acute inflammation induced by Carrageenan is also documented. Upon review, the rhizome is found to have phytoconstituents such as fura-noid and labdane diterpenes (Hedychenone, Hedychilactone D), sesquiterpenes (Farnesene, Eudesmol), 1,8-cineole. Moreover, H. spicatum and its formulations have been found to alleviate the conditions of cough, restlessness, dyspnea, bronchospasm, and asthma clinically. The present review concludes with a pertinent pharmacological ability of H. spicatum and clinical use in proprietary products which may further be evalu-ated in line with scientific studies.(c) 2023 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.