Medicinal Plants

Globba pendula Roxb.

Jahe-jahean

Zingiberaceae

Location in the garden Greenhouse
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Globba pendula (Jahe-jahean) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Globba pendula (Jahe-jahean) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Globba pendula (Jahe-jahean)

Summary

Jahe-jahean (Globba pendula) is a herb 55-80 cm tall from the Zingiberaceae family distributed in Thailand, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. Several tribes in South Sumatra traditionally use it as an ethnobotanical remedy for postpartum bloating and canker sores. In Vietnam, jahe-jahean rhizome is used to treat rheumatism and osteoarthritis.

Agroecology

Jahe-jahean is commonly found in moist, shaded places at elevations of 1,200-1,300 m asl.

Morphology

  • Rhizome underground, white flesh, glabrous surface and 1.1 cm spacing between shoots.
  • Pseudostem 27 cm tall, 0.7 cm in diameter, base maroon.
  • Leaves number of leaf blades 4-6, leaf sheath 19 cm long, green with red spots, hairy, white. Ligule; 0.25 cm long, tip rounded, surface finely hairy, green with red spots. Petiole; 0.1 cm long, green. Blade; 3.5-12 cm long, 1.2-3.5 cm wide, margin entire, apex acuminate, base acute, surface hairy, green.
  • Flowers orange colored. Peduncle 5.5 cm long, green. Stamen reddish brown, anther 0.4 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, anther attached to the left and right of the stigma, filament 2.21 cm long, orange with 2 appendages. Lateral staminode; oval, 0.8 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, orange. Gynoecium pistil orange, style 2.3 cm long, stigma triangular shaped, white.

Cultivation

Propagation uses rhizome division.

Chemical Content

Labdane diterpene, indirubin, vanillin, vanillic acid, 2(3H)-benzoxazolone, beta-sitosteryl-D-glucopyranoside, beta-sitosterol, 7-alpha-hydroxysitosterol, and isoandrographolide.

Benefits

In traditional Vietnamese medicine, the rhizome of G. pendula is used to treat rheumatism and osteoarthritis. In Malaysia, people use a rhizome decoction for postpartum women and as a vermifuge. In Indonesia it has been used to treat bloating. Has anti-inflammatory activity.

Local Names

Pedas kancil (Palembang, Sumatra), Jae kera (Bangka).

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Anti-inflammatory from Jahe-jahean

1. Anti-inflammatory

  • Take an adequate amount of jahe-jahean leaves and wash until clean.
  • Boil until it boils.
  • Strain the decoction.
  • Drink.
Traditional recipe Rheumatism from Jahe-jahean

2. Rheumatism

  • Prepare an adequate amount of jahe-jahean leaves and wash until clean.
  • Boil until it boils.
  • Let it cool to warm/cold.
  • Strain then drink.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2021. Plants of the World Online: Globba pendula Roxb.. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:796769-1. 16-12-2021.
  2. Kurniati Sri. 2011. Ekologi dan Distribusi Zingiberaceae di Kawasan Hutan Aek Nauli Kanupaten Simalungun. Tesis. Fakultas Matematika da Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam. Universitas Sumatera Utara. Medan. https://repositori.usu.ac.id/bitstream/handle/123456789/42393/097030024.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. 16-12-2021.
  3. Christophe Wiart, Pharm D. PhD. 2012. Medicinal Plants of China, Korea and Japan. Bioresources for tomorrows Drugs and Cosmetics. CRC Press. London. New York. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/Medicinal_Plants_of_China_Korea_and_Japa/MaduhNghjb4C?hl=id&gbpv=1&dq=globba+pendula&pg=PA55&printsec=frontcover. 16-12-2021.
  4. Ngo Thi Phuong., Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Bui Thi Hai Hoa. 2020. A New Polyoxygenated Cyclohexene From the Rhizomes of Globba pendula Roxb.. SAGE Publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X20922382. 16-12-2021.