Aromatic ginger ( Kaempferia galanga L.) extracts with ameliorative and protective potential as a functional food, beyond its flavor and nutritional benefits.

•Aromatic ginger is rich in essential nutrients showing potential chemopreventive potential.•Dried aromatic ginger and its hydro-distillate contains EPMC, 2.24% and 52.54%, respectively.•In-vitro antiproliferative actions of K. galanga assessed towards nine human cell lines.•Ethyl para-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) identified as most active against WRL-68 and MDA-MB-231.•EPMC inhibit intracellular ROS production and protect cell from oxidative damage.