ZEDOARY OIL
| Botanical Name | Curcum Zedoaria Rosc. |
| Synonyms | - |
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Local Name | Kachur |
| English Name | Zedoary |
Plant Description
Zedoary is an erect herb, often reaching a height of 50 cm with avoiding rootstock. Leaves are oblong, acuminate, 30-60cm long, narrowed to the base, and petiole longer than the leaf blade. The flowers are pale yellow. It is cultivated throughout Nepal at an altitude of 1000 m.
Extraction
Zedoary oil is extracted by steam distillation of the rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria.
Uses
The oil can be used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, digestive, sedative, and stomachic. Zedoary oil is also used as a gastro-intestinal stimulant in flatulent colic and it prevents stress ulceration. The oil is used as a condiment, as a flavoring for liqueurs, and in perfumery.
Organoleptic Properties
| Appearance: | Viscous fluid |
| Colour: | Golden Yellow |
| Aroma: | Warm-Spicy, woody and camphoraceous cineolic odour. |
Active Constituents
1,8-cineol and beta-eudesmol are the major constituents of Zedoary oil. Other components are curculone, curcumadiol, curcumanolide A and B, curcumenol, curcucumenone, curcumol, curcumin, curdione, dehydrocurdione, borneol, camphene, camphor. The root also contains numerous other bitter substances, tannins, and flavonoids.
Physico-Chemical Properties
| Specific gravity | 0.899 - 0.9313 at 27° C?> |
| Optical rotation | [-] 0.75° to 8° at 27° C?> |
| Refractive index | 1.39 to 1.482 at 27° C?> |
| Acid number | 1. 162 to 3.74 |
| Ester number | 8.23 to 37.28 |
| Ester number | 60 to 75 (after acetylation) |
| Solubility | Soluble in 80%- 90% alcohol |