Awapuhi

« Back to Glossary Index

Awapuhi is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.

Awapuhi (Wikipedia)

Zingiber zerumbet is a species of plant in the ginger family with leafy stems growing to about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall. It originates from Asia, but can be found in many tropical countries. Common names include: awapuhi (from Hawaiian: ʻawapuhi spelled with an ʻokina, doublet of ʻawa), bitter ginger, shampoo ginger, lempoyang (from Malay) and pinecone ginger.

Zingiber zerumbet
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Zingiber
Species:
Z. zerumbet
Binomial name
Zingiber zerumbet
(L.) Roscoe ex Sm.
Synonyms
  • Amomum silvestre Poir.
  • Amomum spurium (J.Koenig) J.F.Gmel.
  • Amomum sylvestre Lam. [Illegitimate]
  • Amomum zerumbet L.
  • Cardamomum spurium (J.Koenig) Kuntze
  • Dieterichia lampujang Giseke
  • Dieterichia lampuyang Giseke
  • Dieterichia major Raeusch.
  • Dieterichia minor Raeusch.
  • Dieterichia spuria (J.Koenig) Giseke
  • Zerumbet zingiber T.Lestib.
  • Zingiber amaricans Blume
  • Zingiber aromaticum Valeton
  • Zingiber blancoi Hassk.
  • Zingiber darceyi H.J.Veitch
  • Zingiber littorale (Valeton) Valeton
  • Zingiber ovoideum Blume
  • Zingiber spurium J.Koenig
  • Zingiber sylvestre Garsault [Invalid]
  • Zingiber truncatum Stokes
  • Zingiber zerumbet var. littoralis Valeton
  • Zingiber zerumbet var. magnum Elmer
  • Zingiber zerumbet subsp. Zerumbet

The rhizomes of Z. zerumbet are used as food flavoring and appetizers in various cuisines, and the rhizome extracts have been used in herbal medicine.

« Back to Glossary Index
This entry was posted in . Bookmark the permalink.