Hedychium Coronarium J. Koenig: Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potential: A Comprehensive Review

Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig, commonly known as white ginger or butterfly lily, is a perennial rhizomatous herb belonging to the family Zingiberaceae and has been widely valued in traditional Asian medicinal systems, particularly Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Classical texts such as the Charaka Samhita describe its use in the management of inflammation, fever, pain, and infectious conditions. Ethnobotanical studies from different regions of India further document the traditional application of its rhizomes in the treatment of headaches, rheumatism, diabetes, body aches, and other ailments. Phytochemical investigations have identified more than seventy-five secondary metabolites from the plant, including volatile oils, flavonoids, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, sterols, glycosides, xanthones, and saponins. Among these, labdane-type diterpenes, particularly coronarin D, have attracted considerable interest due to their pronounced anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, mediated through mechanisms such as inhibition of NF-κB signaling, modulation of cyclooxygenase pathways, and induction of apoptosis. Experimental pharmacological studies have demonstrated a broad spectrum of biological activities for H. coronarium, including analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, cytotoxic, anti-tumor, anthelmintic, and larvicidal effects. The integration of extensive ethnomedicinal knowledge with emerging phytochemical and pharmacological evidence highlights H. coronarium as a promising source of bioactive compounds for drug discovery. This review comprehensively summarizes the plant's traditional uses, botanical features, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological properties, while also identifying current research gaps and future prospects for translating its bioactive molecules into clinically relevant therapeutic agents.