Hedychium Coronarium rhizomes essential oil. Main compounds and biological activity. An updated mini-review of the last 10 years.

Hedycium coronarium (Zingiberaceae) is widespread in many countries in the tropical region. The essential oil has been investigated in the last decade, and some biological activities have been performed. The chemical composition has been studied on several samples belonging to many different countries, and the main compounds of the H. coronarium rhizomes oil are 1,8-cineole (11-56%), β-pinene (10-39%), and α-pinene (6-13%). Several preliminary studies concerning biological activities have been performed, and some promising results have been identified regarding the antiophidian, allelopathic, antimicrobial, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities. In the present mini-review 11 articles have been selected, and analyzed in order to elucidate the chemical composition, and pharmacological data of H. coronarium essential oil, some trends for new researches have been also proposed. The H. coronarium rhyzome essential, probably due to the presence of 1,8-cineole, deserve additional investigation in order to verify its potential as bioherbicide or natural-based antivenom treatment.