Pharmacognostic properties and chemical composition of bastard carbamom

Botanical characteristic of two naturally collected species from genus Amomum that entitled “reo” were studied and identified to be Amomum uliginosum K. D. Koenig and A. fulviceps Thw. The comparative morphological studies and analysis of the essential oil by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy between crude drugs “reo” from known self collected species and “reo” which were purchased from Thai traditional drug stores throughout Thailand were carried out. The results indicated that the commercially available crude drugs named “reo” in Thailand is from A. uliginosum K. D. Koenig, the other one that rarely found is probably Alpinia sp., and two adulterant species are Amomum fulviceps Thw. and the mentioned Alpinia sp. above. The pharmacognostic studied and qualitative evaluation of crude drugs from Amomum uliginosum K. D. Koenig were determined and the results could be used as a standard reference data for the drug.