Kaempferia rotunda Linn.- Phytochemical Profile

— Chengazhuneerkizhangu is a drug widely used among the traditional practitioners of Kerala. The drug is botanically identified as Kaempferia rotunda Linn. belonging to family Zingiberaceae. Hortus malabaricus, a book describing the folklore medicines of Malabar identifies the drug and rhizome is described as its useful part. The use of the drug is limited to the state and it is away from the main stream of practice. In order to validate the traditional claim the preliminary phytochemical analysis of the drug was carried out. The preliminary phytochemical analysis aims at analysing the physico chemical property of drugs, their qualitative analysis, ash values, extractive values, moisture and volatile contents, estimation of Tannins and Phenols. On analysing the phytochemical constituents present in the crude drug, the drug revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, steroids, and tannins. These phytoconstituents present in the drug may be responsible for the therapeutic potential of the drug. This preliminary phytochemical analysis of the drug validates the therapeutical claim about the drug.