<![CDATA[Abstract Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) is a Zingiberaceae plant widely used in Indonesian traditional medicine. Its rhizome contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and essential oil, which are associated with antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. This narrative literature review summarizes findings from studies published between 2021 and 2024 on the phytochemical content and antimicrobial activity of kencur rhizome, as a basis for planning further experimental research. Literature was searched on Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Garuda using the keywords “Kaempferia galanga”, “kencur”, “antibacterial”, “antifungal”, and “phytochemical”, limited to publications from 2020-2025. Results show that ethanolic extracts and essential oils of kencur rhizome consistently produced inhibition zones against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and suppressed the growth of Candida albicans. This effect is likely related to the ability of flavonoids and alkaloids to disrupt microbial membrane permeability. Kencur is a promising candidate for a natural antimicrobial agent, warranting further experimental confirmation of its effectiveness and safety. ]]>
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