Kencur or commonly known in the scientific world as Kaempferia galanga
L. In Indonesia is known in various regional names such as ceuku (Aceh), tekur
(Gayo), kaciwer (Karo), cakue (Minangkabau), Cekur (Lampung), kencur (Java),
cikur (Sunda), Kencor (Madura), batako (Manado), watan (Minahsa), (Gorontalo),
cakuru (Makassar), Ceku (Bugis), niche (Bali), cekur (Sasak), sokus (Roti),
Sukung (Timor), suha (Seram), assuli (Ambon), Onegai (Buru), Bataka (Ternate,
Tidore), ukap (Irian).
This plant is expected to come from Tropical Asia region. Most people
suspect that the origin kencur is Indo-Malaysian region. But other literature
sources to make sure that kencur plant origin is from India and subsequently
cultivated by the countries in various parts of southeast Asia, southern China,
to Australia.
In Indonesia alone, kencur first present in the Maluku, because at
that moment spices in Indonesia is based in Maluku. Kencur cropping center is
still concentrated in Java, especially Central Java and East Java. One of the
central areas of greatest kencur today is Boyolali (Central Java), which in
1992 contained kencur planting area covering 703 hectares with a production of
1,301 tons of wet logs.
Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) is widely used as raw material for
traditional medicine (herbal medicine), fitofarmaka, cosmetics, food and
beverage flavoring, spices, sauces and mixed materials, cigarette in the
cigarette industry. Empirically kencur used as an appetite enhancer, a
bacterial infection, cough, dysentery, tonic, expectorant, colds, stomach
aches. Essential oil in the rhizome kencur sinnamat containing ethyl and methyl
p-methoxycinnamate are widely used in the cosmetics industry and is used as an
asthma medication and anti-fungal. The many benefits of kencur enable the
development carried out intensive cultivation adjusted to the desired end
product. Production, quality and content of active ingredients in the rhizome
kencur determined by the varieties used, the way the growth of aquaculture and
the environment.
Kencur main product is the rhizome which can be used as a medicinal
plant material (botanicals) Traditionally, industrial raw material for
beverages and spices. Priangan (West Java) kencur leaves are commonly used as
raw salad.
Chemical
Substances
Almost all parts of the kencur plant contain essential oils. Chemicals
that have been widely studied is the rhizome, which contain essential oils 2.4%
-3.9%, also cinnamal, aldehide, p-cumarik motile acid, ethyl ester and
pentadekan.
In other literature mentioned that the rhizome kencur contains sineol,
paraeumarin, anisic acid, gum, starch (4.14%) and minerals (13.73%). The
chemical content is very useful for medications, especially cough, abdominal
pain and drug transpiration. Based on laboratory analysis, the essential oil in
the rhizome kencur contains more than 23 types of compounds. Seven of which
contain aromatic compounds, monoterpena, and sesquiterpene.
Chemical constituents present in the rhizome kencur are: starch (4.14%),
minerals (13.73%), oil astiri (0.02%), cineol, kanil metal acid, penta
independence, cinnamic acid, ethyl aster, sinamic acid, borneol, kamphene,
paraeumarin, anisic acids, alkaloids, and gums
Types of
Kencur
Based on the type leaves, there are 2 types of kencur namely:
1. Kencur
broadleaf, which is characterized by the shape of its leaves are wide and
large, nearly circular and relatively very short petiole. Kencur type of this
is currently the most widely planted by farmers. Cultivars (clones) kencur
broadleaf is Boyolali, Boro, Kalipare, Ketawang, Arjosari, Corporal and Bogor.
2. Kencur
narrow-leaved, which is characterized by the shape of its leaves are elongated
and slim narrow and relatively long petiole than kencur broadleaf species.
The Composition
of the Body
Kencur is included in the small herb life cycle of a season or several
seasons. Body composition kencur plant consists of:
1. The
roots and rhizomes
A finely branched roots stay attached to the
tubers and roots called "rhizome". Rhizome kencur partly overground.
Rhizomes generally spherical shape, the central part is white and yellowish
brown edges and fragrant. Kencur rhizomes are in the soil and forked branches
huddled with parent rhizome in the middle. Epidermis brown and white inner
aqueous pungent smell. Young rhizomes yellowish white with a water content of
more and older overgrown rhizome root rhizome segments yellowish-white segment.
2. Stem
and Leaf
Kencur plant has a very short pseudo-stem,
formed from the stem-leaf midrib overlap. The kencur leaves grow single,
widened and leveled almost flush with the ground surface. The number of leaves
varies between 8-10 strands and grow opposite each other. Elliptical leaf shape
extends to circular, the size of leaves 7-12 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, as well
as fleshy bit wide.
3. Flowers
and Fruit
Kencur flowers out in the form of granules half
sitting on the end of the crop in between the leaves. Flower color white,
purple to violet and each flower stalk flower numbered 4-12. Kencur white
flowers fragrant leaves composed of four crowns. Leaved flower stalk small
round 2-3 cm, unbranched, can grow more than satiu stalk, stem length of 5-7 cm
is round and segmented sections. Pistil protruding upward size of 1 - 1.5 cm
long, funnel-shaped short stalk juice. Kencur fruit including fruit segmented
box 3 with ovaries are located sinking, but difficult to produce seed.
Conditions
of Growth
For growth kencur optimum required land with altitude 50-600 m. The
temperature annual average of 25-30 °C, the number of wet months 5-9 months per
year and dry month 5-6 months, rainfall per year in 2500 - 4000 mm, the
intensity of sunlight is full (100%) or shaded to 25-30% until the plant is 6
months old, soil drainage is good, the texture of clay to sandy clay loam,
slope <3%, with the type of soil latosol, regosol, association between
latosols-andosol, regosol-latosol and regosol-litosol, with soil acidity from
4.5 to 5.0 can be added or agricultural lime (kaptan / dolomite) to raise the
pH to 5.5 to 6.5. In addition, the land must also be free of diseases,
especially bacterial wilt.
Efficacy
Kencur Plant
Efficacy kencur plants that can be used as a traditional medicine as
follows:
1. Inflammation
of the Stomach
2. Children
Ear Inflammation
3. Influenza
in infants
4. Cold
5. Headache
6. Cough
7. Diarrhea
8. Eliminate
Dirty Blood
9. Streamlining
menstruation
10. Eye
sore
11. Sprain
12. Eliminate
Tired
13. Treating
heartburn in the stomach
14. Tetanus
15. Tempeh
Bongkrek Poisoning
16. Vomiting
17. Mushroom
Poisoning
18. Acne
19. Migraine
20. Pegal-rheumatic
21. Kidney
stones
22. Asthma
Drugs
23. Tetanus
24. Slimming
