Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities of Roscoea purpurea Sm.

Roscoea purpurea Sm. (Family: Zingiberaceae) is a medicinally important herb endemic to the Himalayan region distributed from Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh in India. The tuberous rhizomes of the species are used in traditional formulations as a tonic for seminal debility and many other diseases. The rhizomes are used as an ingredient of a popular Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation “Chyawanprash.” The species has been reported as a rich source of various nutritive constituents, minerals, phenolics, terpenoids, and carotenoids. Scientific studies showed that the rhizomes possess various pharmacological properties such as immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. This chapter mainly focused on the scientific progress of the species related to nutritional and phytochemical composition, and pharmacological activities, with its potential in the nutraceutical market. However, research on the validation of traditional uses through pharmacological activities and clinical studies on humans is insufficient to support the species for ingredients of the dietary health supplements.