Species from the Zingiberaceae family are known to accumulate secondary metabolites from the polyketide and terpenoid pathway (Pancharoen et al., 2000). In this study, we focused on compounds deriving from the polyketide pathway (diarylheptanoids 1–7, flavonoids 9–11, [2]-gingerol (8)) and of labdane-diterpenes (12, 13). Their accumulation pattern in different plant organs and their structural features are discussed with respect to their possible value as chemical characters