Galangal possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties that help treat many ailments. This root is also used to treat diabetes, fight cancer, act against inflammatory diseases, and boost male fertility. This article discusses the health benefits of galangal, its biochemical composition, preparation method, and possible side effects. Take a look.
What Is Galangal?
Galangal (Alpinia officinarum and Alpinia galangal) is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. This perennial herb is indigenous to southeast China and Indonesia and grows in the plains of West Bengal, Assam, and Eastern Himalayas in India (1). Ayurveda and traditional Chinese and European medicine have used different parts of galangal to treat cold, stomach ache, inflammation, diabetes, ulcers, nausea, diarrhea, eczema, and various acute and chronic conditions (1). The seed of galangal is used as a mouth freshener, dental cleanser, digestive aid, and laxative. The flowers and tender shoots are used as a spice or vegetable. The root or rhizome is used as a spice and source of essential oil (like ginger). As it looks, tastes, and feels like ginger, galangal is also called the ‘mild ginger’ (Liang-tiang) in Chinese. Like ginger, galangal contains flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, and essential oils (2). Want to know how these bioactive components of galangal work together on your body systems? Read the next section to find the answers.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Galangal?
Galangal’s benefits are due to its high content of bioactive compounds that offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
1. May Possess Antidiabetic Properties
According to a 2015 animal study, methanolic extracts of galangal showed antidiabetic potential. Aerial parts of galangal could stimulate the regeneration of insulin-secreting beta-cells in the pancreas. Administering galangal extracts to diabetic rats lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels, improving lipid metabolism and preventing diabetic complications (3). Galangal extract was found to inhibit carbohydrate metabolism, minimizing the post-meal blood glucose spikes. The glucose-controlling activity was on par with synthetic antidiabetic drugs (4). Due to its antioxidant activity, this herbal medicine can protect your liver and pancreas from oxidative stress and damage. The polyphenols, alkaloids, triterpenes, steroids, and carbohydrates in galangal are proposed to be responsible for this activity (3). However, more research is required in this area to understand these benefits on humans.
2. Might Possess Antiproliferative Effects
The aqueous extract of Alpinia galangal can inhibit the proliferation of human gastric tumor cell lines. The galangal rhizome (root) contains two cytotoxic compounds, namely, acetoxychavicolacetate and p-coumaryl alcohol-O-methyl ether, that are known to act against cancer cells (5). Galangal extracts showed anticancer effects on melanoma (skin) cells, preventing skin cancer (5). The cytotoxic compounds in this Chinese herb can induce glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in the liver cells. GST eliminates mutagenic compounds and free radicals, thus preventing cancerous changes (6). However, more research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms and anticancer effects of this medicinal root.
3. May Help To Treat Arthritis And Other Inflammatory Diseases
Galangal rhizomes contain flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and several phenolic compounds. These phytochemicals showed potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in animal studies (7). Galangin down-regulates the expression of genes that produce pro-inflammatory compounds like cytokines and interleukins (8). As galangal extracts may inhibit COX-1 and 2 and lipoxygenase pathways, they could be used to manage arthritis, edema, inflammatory bowel disease, and other inflammatory disorders (9), (10).
4. May Possess Antimicrobial Properties
Researchers claim that the essential oils from dried and fresh galangal rhizomes can eliminate bacteria, yeast, fungi, and parasites. Terpinen-4-ol, one of the monoterpenes in the essential oil derived from fresh galangal rhizome, possesses antimicrobial activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (11). Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), a compound isolated from the extract of dried rhizomes, is active against certain dermatophyte (skin-infesting) bacterial species. Among turmeric and ginger, galangal has the most potent inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus (11). Alpinia galanga is also a broad-spectrum fungicide. It can inhibit fungi and yeast, such as Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton longifusus, Colletotrichum musae, Fusarium oxysporum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, and Rhizopus stolonifer (12).
May Boost Sperm Count And Motility
Unlike other aphrodisiacs or fertility supplements, galangal is safe and non-toxic. Rat studies showed that 56 days of treatment with galangal rhizome improved spermatogenesis and related parameters (13). The sperm count and mobility increased after this treatment. The increase in sperm density and motility in cauda epididymis (the storage site for mature sperm) can affect fertilization (13). Galangal influences the protein production via expression of related genes involved in spermatogenesis. It could, hence, be used in drugs to promote male fertility (13). Clinical data can elucidate the safety of this herbal extract in the future. In the earlier sections, we briefly discussed how a powerful phytochemical profile gives galangal its unique health benefits. Let’s look at those phytochemicals in detail.
Biochemical Composition Of Galangal
Most sub-species of galangal have good amounts of flavonoids. Galangin, alpinin, kaempferol, kaempferide, pinene, pineol, chavicol, methyl cinnamate, hydroxycinnamaldehyde, isorhamnetin, camphene, myrcene, p-cymene, borneol, terpineol, 4-terpineol, fenchyl acetate, bornyl acetate, humulene, and zerumbone are a few identified ones (14). The leaf oil contains myrcene, ocimene, pinene, borneol, caryophyIIene, and bisabolene. The essential oil from galangal flower has a-pinene, sabinene, limonene, phellandrene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, a-terpineol, methyleugenol, patchoulene, caratol, a-farnesene, nerolidol, bisabolol and benzyl benzoate (14). The galangal fruits contain acetyleugenol acetate and 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate. The seed contains caryophyllene oxide, caryophyllenol, pentadecane, 7-heptadecane, and fatty acid methyl esters (13). It is because of these terpinols and esters in the essential oils that galangal is used as a perfume or freshener in India and the Middle Eastern countries. As a bonus, each serving of galangal contains 45 calories and 2 g of dietary fiber. It is also a natural source of sodium, iron, and vitamins A and C (almost like ginger). That, indeed, is a powerful biochemical profile. No wonder the Chinese obsessed over galangal and made many recipes with it! Yes, that’s right. Several cuisines incorporate galangal in their delicacies. Here’s a quick and simple recipe for you.
How To Cook With Galangal Root
It doesn’t take a lot of preparation to cook with galangal root. The Jungle Thai Curry – With Galangal And Mushroom What You Need
Coconut milk: 2 cps Galangal: 1, ½-inch piece, peeled and sliced Kaffir lime leaves: 3, chopped or torn Salt: 2 teaspoons Fresh mushrooms: ⅓ pound, sliced Thai chili peppers: 5, chopped Fresh lime juice: ¼ cup Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon Boiling pot: medium-large
Let’s Make It! Gin hi a-ròi! (Bon appetit!) South-east Asian and Asian cooking offers everything on a platter that soothes your body during every meal. If you do not like the taste of galangal in your meals, you can substitute it with ginger. Remember, ginger is a stronger spice than galangal. For every serving of galangal, 3/4th of ginger would do. Alternatively, you can buy galangal supplements in the form of oil or capsules.
Precautions And Side Effects Of Galangal
Galangal has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. This root is typically safe when it is consumed in the amounts likely found in foods (1). Animal studies found that doses of 2,000 mg per kg of body weight resulted in serious side effects, including coma, diarrhea, excessive urination, lack of appetite, a drop in energy levels, and death (15). These side effects were absent at considerably smaller dosages of 300 mg per kg of body weight. How do you store galangal? Wrap the galangal root in a damp, clean cloth. Then, wrap it in a plastic bag. You can store galangal this way in the fridge for a long time. The root retains the moisture from the cloth and stays fresh too. If it is for extended storage, you might have to change the damp cloth to prevent fungal infestation. Can you eat galangal raw? When purchasing this root, check for the younger variants. If the root has a shiny, translucent peel with a peachy beige shade, it can be eaten raw. Is turmeric and galangal the same thing? No, both are different. Galangal is more pine-like and citrusy in flavor whereas turmeric has an earthy flavor with bright orange flesh. Can you freeze galangal? Yes, the root can freeze up to three months without peeling. It can be frozen without losing any flavor. Cut the unpeeled root into slices a quarter-inch thick, wrap in plastic, and freeze it. Do you need to peel galangal? No. Unlike ginger, galangal does not need to be peeled. Thoroughly rinse the root under cold water, rubbing away any dirt, and pat dry. What does galangal taste like? Galangal has a sharp citrusy, and pine-like flavor and is used as a food flavoring agent in South East Asian countries. Is Galangal a spice? Yes, galangal is a ginger-like spice widely used in South East Asia. Can you dry galangal? Yes. However, remember that dried galangal has a lower potency than fresh ones when used in recipes. Can you eat galangal stems? Yes, you can eat fresh, young galangal stems. Can you make galangal tea? Yes, you can make tea with freshly minced or sliced galangal.
