Abstract:Kaempferia parviflora is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia as food, cosmetics and medicine. It has also been cultivated as a medicinal plant for a long time in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, China. Rhizome is an important medicinal part of K. parviflora, mainly containing flavonoids. Pharmacological studies showed that black ginger had anti-cancer, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-viral, neuroprotective, vascular relaxant and cardioprotective, and transdermal permeable activities, etc. The advances in chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicology of black ginger were reviewed, which would provide help for further research, development and utilization of K. parviflora resource.
