Kachura
Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe
Kachura (Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Zingiberaceae family. Not in specific WHO monographs; listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; recognized in Japanese, Chinese, and Thai traditional pharmacopeias.
| Botanical name | Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe |
|---|---|
| Family | Zingiberaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Zingiberales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not in specific WHO monographs; listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; recognized in Japanese, Chinese, and Thai traditional pharmacopeias |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2757545 · Wikidata Q206733 · NCBI Taxonomy 136224 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kachura |
| Latin/Botanical | Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Curcumin and curcuminoids
- Curcuzedoalide (unique sesquiterpenoid)
- Germacrone (sesquiterpenoid)
- Essential oil (4%): cineole, camphor, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene
- Zedoarone and furanodienone
- Starch, gums, and arabin
How does it work?
- Anticancer activity via curcuzedoalide-mediated apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer cell lines
- Cardioprotective effects through germacrone-mediated attenuation of oxidative stress, NF-kB-driven inflammation, and anti-apoptotic pathway activation
- Anti-inflammatory mechanism via curcumin-mediated inhibition of COX-2, iNOS, and pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Antimicrobial activity through essential oil disruption of microbial cell membranes affecting Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
- Digestive stimulant and carminative (Deepana) - validated through studies confirming carminative and digestive enzyme stimulation
- Anti-flatulence (Anulomana) - confirmed through antispasmodic activity on gastrointestinal smooth muscle
- Anti-cancer adjunct (Arbuda-hara) - validated through multiple studies showing antiproliferative activity against gastric, ovarian, and breast cancer cells
- Anti-inflammatory (Shotha-hara) - confirmed through curcumin and germacrone-mediated anti-inflammatory pathways
What do recent clinical trials show?
3 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Generally safe at recommended culinary and therapeutic doses; may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals
- Not recommended during pregnancy (traditional emmenagogue and uterine stimulant); may potentiate the effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Curcumin
- Germacrone
- Cineole
- Camphor
- Furanodienone
- Starch
- Curcuzedoalide
- Essential oil
Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (rhizome powder), Capsule, Tablet, Essential oil, Taila (medicated oil), Lepa (paste)
Standard Dosage: 1-3g rhizome powder twice daily; 250-500mg extract; 3-5 drops essential oil (external); paste as needed externally
Bioavailability: Curcuma zedoaria (white turmeric/zedoary) rhizome contains sesquiterpenes (curzerenone, curzerene, germacrone) and curcuminoids (in lower amounts than C. longa). Sesquiterpenes have moderate oral bioavailability with lipophilic absorption. Germacrone shows reasonable GI absorption. Essential oil components absorbed well via inhalation and transdermal routes. Co-administration with Pippali or lipids enhances absorption.
Optimal Timing: Before or after meals with warm water; external paste as needed
Standardized Extract: Essential oil standardized to curzerenone (>15%) and germacrone (>10%); hydroalcoholic extract with HPTLC fingerprint matching reference standard
Shelf Life: 2 years (rhizome powder); 3 years (essential oil, sealed); 3 years (capsule/tablet)
Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from light. Essential oil in amber glass. Powder in airtight containers to preserve volatile content.
Marker Compounds: Curzerenone, Curzerene, Germacrone, Furanodienone, Curdione, Dehydrocurdione, Zederone, Curcumenol
Extraction Methods
- Steam distillation (essential oil, 1-2.5% yield)
- Supercritical CO2 extraction for sesquiterpene-enriched fraction
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (70:30 ethanol:water)
- Aqueous extraction
- Traditional processing in sesame/coconut oil for Taila
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews5
- 2024. The Extraction, Determination, and Bioactivity of Curcumenol: A Comprehensive ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38338400 · doi:10.3390/molecules29030656
- 2019. Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Traditional Uses of Curcuma spp. and Pharmacological Profile of Two Important Species (C. longa and C. zedoaria): A ReviewCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 30947655 · doi:10.2174/1381612825666190402163940
- 2019. Medicinal plants in traumatic brain injury: Neuroprotective mechanisms revisitedBioFactors (Oxford, England). PMID 31206893 · doi:10.1002/biof.1516
- 2018. Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Curcuma SpeciesNutrients. PMID 30200410 · doi:10.3390/nu10091196
- 2009. Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. (white turmeric): a review of its chemical, pharmacological and ethnomedicinal propertiesThe Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. PMID 19126292 · doi:10.1211/jpp/61.01.0003
Laboratory and animal studies7
- 2024. β-Elemene promotes ferroptosis and reverses radioresistance in gastric cancer by inhibiting the OTUB1-GPX4 interactionFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 39484165 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1469180
- 2022. Curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer via Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathwayJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 34592340 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114689
- 2019. Sesquiterpenes from Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes and their cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer AGS cellsBioorganic chemistry. PMID 30884305 · doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.03.015
- 2019. Variations in the Volatile Compositions of Curcuma SpeciesFoods (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 30717336 · doi:10.3390/foods8020053
- 2019. Curcumin and Curcumol Inhibit NF-κB and TGF-β (1)/Smads Signaling Pathways in CSE-Treated RAW246.7 CellsEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 31007701 · doi:10.1155/2019/3035125
- 2018. Identification and Characterization of Genes in the Curcuminoid Pathway of Curcuma zedoaria RoscoeCurrent pharmaceutical biotechnology. PMID 30295188 · doi:10.2174/1389201019666181008112244
- 2017. Optimization of phenolics and flavonoids extraction conditions of Curcuma Zedoaria leaves using response surface methodologyChemistry Central journal. PMID 29086882 · doi:10.1186/s13065-017-0324-y
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