Bioactive constituents of Curcuma amada (mango ginger) rhizomes and their antifungal activity against human skin pathogens.

Curcuma amada (mango ginger) is an aromatic plant with a rich content of phytochemicals in its rhizome. The
rhizomes have an exotic flavour of mango but morphologically resemble ginger. The rhizomes are used in the
preparation of pickles, chutney, and many culinary preparations. Many ethnic groups use this plant’s rhizome to
cure all kinds of skin diseases and for many other therapeutic purposes. The GCMS analysis revealed the presence
of 83 components, of which β-Myrcene (6.6 %), epicurzeronone (2.5 %), squalene (2.2 %), α-acaridial (1.8 %),
β-pinene (1.8 %), 2,6,11,15-Tetramethyl-hexadeca-2,6,8,10,14-pentaene (1.7 %) and aromadandrene (1.1 %)
were the major components. The essential oil of the rhizome exhibited a wide range of antifungal activity against
dermatophytes and yeasts with MIC ranging from 8−128 μg. This study demonstrated the efficacy of this plant
used in traditional medicine to treat all kinds of skin diseases as practiced by many ethnic groups since antiquity