Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Vinod Sahu, Keerti Tantwai, Nishi Mishra, Prakash N Tiwari, Swapnil Sapre, Gyanendra Tiwari and Sharad Tiwari

Abstract:
Curcuma caesia Roxb. belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, an important untouched medicinal plant commonly named black turmeric due to its bluish-black rhizome. It is a non-permeable, straightforward rhizomatous condiment with large leaves. Fresh sweet rhizomes with a strong camphoraceous scent planted by their rhizomes are used in traditional medicine. The pharma sector has its massive demand due to its phytochemicals like camphor, ar-turmerone, (Z) - ocimene, ar- curcumene, 1, 8- cineole, elemene, borneol, bornyl acetate and curcumen. These are used in therapeutics like antifungal exertion, anti-asthmatic, smooth muscle relaxant, antimicrobial exertion, antioxidant exertion, analgesic, locomotor depressant, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant, and anti-inflammatory parcels. In this study, different accessions of black turmeric were collected, and their morphological characterization was undertaken to assess the variability that can facilitate better selection for its improvement.