Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm.

Lempuyang (Zingiber zerumbet) is a herb up to 1.5 meters tall of the Zingiberaceae family, native to India, cultivated as far as Sri Lanka and throughout Southeast Asia. Its rhizome is used as a cooking spice as well as natural shampoo and hair conditioner, while its essential oil becomes soap perfume in India. Lempuyang is traditionally believed to be antitumor and to help address colds.

Grows well in tropical regions with relatively warm temperatures of 20-32°C at elevations of 400-1,200 m above sea level and rainfall between 400-1,400 mm/year. This plant is tolerant of acidic, alkaline, and saline soil.

• Rhizome somewhat flat or somewhat inverted ovate, the tip part short-branched. Outer part yellowish-brown-pale yellow and longitudinally grooved, giving an uneven and fibrous fracture surface.
• Stem a pseudostem (extension of leaf sheath), upright, round shape.
• Leaves single alternate arrangement, green in color, elongated ovate shape, tapering tip, flat edges, light green in color. Sheath gutter-shaped.
• Flowers raceme-shaped, emerging from the stem in the soil, greenish-reddish, pale yellow to white corolla.

• Propagated using rhizome.
• Planting in the field with a spacing of 60x40 cm. This plant requires enough sunlight or slight shelter. Harvest is done 10 months after planting.

Zerumbone, alpha humulene, humulene oxide, beta-eudesmol, beta-selinene, linalool, 12-oxabicyclo, caryophyllene oxide, 3-octadecyne, hexadecanoic acid and 3-octyne 5-methyl.

Antitumor, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, treats colds, stomach ache, shortness of breath, runny nose, intestinal inflammation, weak nerves, blood and appetite booster, gallbladder pain, convulsions in children, diarrhea, dysentery, kidney stones and jaundice.

• Clean lempuyang rhizome of attached dirt then wash thoroughly and slice thinly.
• Dry in the sun for 6 days or until dry. Grind into powder.
• Pack the simplisia in plastic, then vacuum seal.

Lempuyang kerbau, Lempuyang kapur (Sumatra), Lempuyang badak, Lempuyang kebo, Lempuyang gajah (Java), Lempuyang paek (Madura).