Other Common Names: pink ginger bud, pink torch ginger, ginger flower, red ginger lily, torch lily, wild ginger, combrang, bunga kantan, Philippine wax flower, Indonesian tall ginger, boca de dragón, rose de porcelaine, and porcelain rose
Classification
Subkingdom:
Superdivision:
Division:
Class:
Subclass:
Order:
Family:
It is a robust and erect herb, growing to 5 meters, and found near ravines and lakes in Mindanao. The leaves are distichous, up to 1 to 1.5 meters long. The flowering stalk is separate from the leafy stem. Inflorescence is borne on the long, slender, leafless peduncle from the rhizome. The flower head is large and surrounded by large, red, involucrate bracts.
Medicinal Use:
Decoction prepared from the fruit of E. elatior has been used to treat ear ache and the leaves have been used in wound healing. The young flower shoot of E. elatior was reported to have antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anti-tumor promoting properties.
Studies:
Antioxidant effects of Etlingera elatior flower extract against lead acetate-induced perturbations in free radical scavenging enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rats
Essential elements in Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Sm. and Etlingera philippinensis (Ridl.) R. M. Sm.
References:
Barbosa, G. B., Alinapon, C. B. and Gultiano, A. G. (2021). Essential elements in Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Sm. and Etlingera philippinensis (Ridl.) R. M. Sm. The Palawan Scientist, 13(2): 87-100.
Habsah M, Ali M, Lajis NH, Sukari MA, Yap YH, Kikuzaki H, Nakatani N. Antitumor promoting and cytotoxic constituents of Etlingera Elatior. Malaysian J Med Sci. 2005;12:6–12.
Jackie, T., Haleagrahara, N. & Chakravarthi, S. (2011). Antioxidant effects of Etlingera elatior flower extract against lead acetate-induced perturbations in free radical scavenging enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rats. National Library of Medicine. 10.1186/1756-0500-4-67