Alpinia nutans
Encyclopedia
Alpinia nutans is a Southeast Asia
n plant of the ginger family
(Zingiberaceae
), which is often used as a medicinal plant.
has a massive anther. The globose white stigma of the pistil extends beyond the tip of the anther. The foliage of Alpinia nutans is evergreen in areas that do not have a hard freeze. It has a very distinctive cardamom
fragrance when brushed or rubbed, but this is not the plant that produces the spice by that name.
s with an odd number of carbon atoms, which are less common in nature than fatty acids with even numbers of carbon atoms. The major one is pentadecanoic acid
(C-15, 21.9%) and others are tricosylic acid (C-23, 5.7%), tridecylic acid
(C-13, 1.9%), undecylic acid
(C-11, 3.1%) and pelargonic acid (C-9, 0.1%). Among the fatty acids containing even number of carbon atoms, the main constituents are linolenic acid
(C-18:3, 27.4%) and arachidic acid
(C-20, 22.4%). The total saturated fatty acids constitute 65.7% and unsaturated 34.3%.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n plant of the ginger family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
(Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important...
), which is often used as a medicinal plant.
Characteristics
Its flowers have a porcelain look, are shell-like and bloom prolifically on a 30-cm stalk. The flower's single fertile stamenStamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
has a massive anther. The globose white stigma of the pistil extends beyond the tip of the anther. The foliage of Alpinia nutans is evergreen in areas that do not have a hard freeze. It has a very distinctive cardamom
Cardamom
Cardamom refers to several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds...
fragrance when brushed or rubbed, but this is not the plant that produces the spice by that name.
Chemistry
The rhizome oil of Alpinia speciosa K. Schum. contains some fatty acidFatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
s with an odd number of carbon atoms, which are less common in nature than fatty acids with even numbers of carbon atoms. The major one is pentadecanoic acid
Pentadecanoic acid
Pentadecanoic acid is a saturated fatty acid. Its molecular formula is CH313COOH.The butterfat in cows milk is its major dietary sourceand it is used as a marker for butterfat consumption.-External links:*...
(C-15, 21.9%) and others are tricosylic acid (C-23, 5.7%), tridecylic acid
Tridecylic acid
Tridecylic acid, or tridecanoic acid, is a 13-carbon saturated fatty acid with the chemical formula CH311COOH. It is commonly found in dairy products....
(C-13, 1.9%), undecylic acid
Undecylic acid
Undecylic acid is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid with chemical formula CH39COOH....
(C-11, 3.1%) and pelargonic acid (C-9, 0.1%). Among the fatty acids containing even number of carbon atoms, the main constituents are linolenic acid
Linolenic acid
Linolenic acid can refer to either of two octadecatrienoic acids:*α-Linolenic acid, an ω-3 fatty acid found in many vegetable oils. The unmodified term linolenic acid most commonly refers to this substance.*γ-Linolenic acid, an ω-6 fatty acid...
(C-18:3, 27.4%) and arachidic acid
Arachidic acid
Arachidic acid, also called eicosanoic acid, is the saturated fatty acid with a 20 carbon chain. It is as a minor constituent of peanut oil and corn oil . Its name derives from the Latin arachis — peanut...
(C-20, 22.4%). The total saturated fatty acids constitute 65.7% and unsaturated 34.3%.