Curcuma amada Roxb. (Mango ginger): Ethnobotany and Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemical Constituents and Therapeutic Potential: A Comprehensive Review

The genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae) contains more than 100 species which are mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Curcuma amada Roxb., is one of the most important species of Curcuma genus and it is commonly known as mango ginger due to its mango like fragrance and it has significant therapeutic potential. It has traditionally been used in Ayurveda, Unani and folk medicine system for its anti-inflammatory, wound healing and respiratory ailment potential. Curcuma amada has been used for the treatment of stomach ache, cough, fever and skin diseases and also used for making pickle and other culinary preparations showing its ethnobotanical uses. The phytochemical study shows that Curcuma amada is rich in essential oils, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and curcuminoids. β-myrcene comprises the major part of the chemical constituents and also responsible for various therapeutic activities. Google Scholar, Research Gate, Pub Med and ScienceDirect are the scientific databases which have been used to gather information for the study of ethnobotany, ethnomedicinal, morphology, phytochemistry and therapeutic potential of Curcuma amada Roxb. Pharmacological investigations confirm anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anticancer, antioxidant, analgesic, wound healing and antidiabetic potential. Also, various herbal formulations of Curcuma amada including creams, ointments and polyherbal preparations have been prepared and studied for their therapeutic potentials. Despite many pharmacological proofs lack of clinical investigation, toxicity profile and mechanistic studies restrict therapeutic translation. This comprehensive review highlights the ethnobotany, traditional uses, phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential of Curcuma amada. Roxb., providing a scientific basis for further pharmacological and clinical investigations.