J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Apr; 85(2-3): 289-93.

Inhibition of human pathogenic fungi by members of Zingiberaceae used by the Kenyah (Indonesian Borneo).

Ficker CE, Smith ML, Susiarti S, Leaman DJ, Irawati C, Arnason JT.

Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ont., K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada.

Extracts from 11 plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae were tested for antifungal activity using disc diffusion bioassays. Extracts from several members, especially Alpinia galanga, Curcuma zedoaria and Zingiber purpureum, were found to have pronounced inhibitory activities against a wide variety of human pathogenic fungi, including strains resistant to the common antifungals amphotericin B and ketoconazole. As members of the Zingiberaceae are generally regarded as safe for human consumption, these species are excellent candidates for development as novel therapeutics.