Botanical Name - Allium sativum Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Fresh/Dry Part Used - Cloves General Information - Garlic has a long history of usage by mankind for food seasoning. Undoubtedly, garlic has also tremendous health benefits when used as medicine, nutraceutical or simply food as medicine. Furthermore, it has also been proposed as one of the richest sources of total phenolic compounds, among the usually consumed vegetables, and has been highly ranked regarding its contribution of phenolic compounds to human diet. Phytochemicals - Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a widely consumed spice in the world. Garlic contains diverse bioactive compounds, such as allicin, alliin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, and S-allyl-cysteine. Substantial studies have shown that garlic and its bioactive constituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular protective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, digestive system protective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, neuroprotective, and renal protective properties.
Botanical Name - Allium sativum Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Fresh/Dry Part Used - Cloves General Information - Garlic has a long history of usage by mankind for food seasoning. Undoubtedly, garlic has also tremendous health benefits when used as medicine, nutraceutical or simply food as medicine. Furthermore, it has also been proposed as one of the richest sources of total phenolic compounds, among the usually consumed vegetables, and has been highly ranked regarding its contribution of phenolic compounds to human diet. Phytochemicals - Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a widely consumed spice in the world. Garlic contains diverse bioactive compounds, such as allicin, alliin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, and S-allyl-cysteine. Substantial studies have shown that garlic and its bioactive constituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular protective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, digestive system protective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, neuroprotective, and renal protective properties.
Botanical Name - Aloe barbadensis Category - Medicinal Form - Fresh/Dry Part Used - Leaves General Information - The Aloe vera plant has been known and used for centuries for its health, beauty, medicinal and skin care properties. The name Aloe vera derives from the Arabic word Alloeh meaning shining bitter substance, while vera in Latin means true. 2000 years ago, the Greek scientists regarded Aloe vera as the universal panacea. The Egyptians called Aloe the plant of immortality. Today, the Aloe vera plant has been used for various purposes in dermatology. The botanical name of Aloe vera is Aloe barbadensis miller. It belongs to Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family, and is a shrubby or arborescent, perennial, xerophytic, succulent, pea- green color plant. It grows mainly in the dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and America. In India, it is found in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Phytochemicals- Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids. The plant has triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges, yellow tubular flowers and fruits that contain numerous seeds. Each leaf is composed of three layers: 1) An inner clear gel that contains 99% water and rest is made of glucomannans, amino acids, lipids, sterols and vitamins. 2) The middle layer of latex which is the bitter yellow sap and contains anthraquinones and glycosides. 3) The outer thick layer of 15 - 20 cells called as rind which has protective function and synthesizes carbohydrates and proteins.
Botanical Name - Amomum subulatum Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Fruit General Information - Amomum subulatum Roxb (Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb which is cultivated in Sikkim and neighbouring areas. Its fruits are used to treat abdominal disorders, vomiting, problems of throat, liver and lungs and rectal disease. Phytochemicals - Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extracts of the fruits led to the isolation of three new chemical constituents characterized as n-hexatriacont-16,18-diene, 3-methoxybenzyl octadec-9,12,15 trienoate, and 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-olyl--d-arabinopyranosyl-2-(2,6,10,14 -tetramethylhexadecane)-1-oate along with a glyceride identified as glyceryl-1-linoleate-2,3-dioleate.
Botanical Name - Andrographis paniculata Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Whole Plant General Information - The whole herb is bitter in taste and is source of several diterpenoids of which a bitter water soluble lactone andrographolide is important. The plant is acrid, cooling, laxative, antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, sudorific, anthelmintic, digestive and stomachic. It is useful in burning sensation, chronic fever, malaria and intermittent fever, inflammation, cough, bronchitis, skin diseases, intestinal worm, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids and vitiated condition of pitta. The plant is often used as a substitute for Chirayita (Swertia chirayita). Phytochemicals - A number of diterpenoids and diterpenoid glycosides of similar carbon skeleton have been isolated from Andrographis, mainly the most bitter compounds among them are andrographolide, neoandrographolide, deoxyandrographolide. Other such phytochemicals amassed by the plant are 14-deoxyandro -grapholide, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, andrographiside, deoxyandrographiside, homoandrogra-pholide, andrographan, andrographon, andro-graphosterin and stigmasterol. The leaves of Andrographis contain the highest amount of andrographolide (2.39%), the most medicinally active phytochemical in the plant, while the seeds contain the lowest. Andrographolide has highly bitter taste, is colorless crystalline in appearance, and possess a "lactone function". Both growing region and seasonal changes have a strong impact on formation of the diterpene lactones. The highest concentration of the active components is found just before the plant blooms, making early fall the best time to harvest.
Botanical Name - Aquilaria agallocha Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Heart Wood General Information - "This plant is a large evergreen tree about 20 meters tall and 1.5-2.4 meters in girth with somewhat straight and fluted bole. Leaves are alternate 0.5-10 cm by 2-5 cm, oblong, lanceolate or elliptic, caudate, acuminate and glabrous with slender nerves. Venation is parallel and petiole is 0.3-0.5 cm long. It is commercially used as fragrant and in prepation of drugs. The tree contains plenty of oleoresin and has irregular dark patches. The wood burns with a bright flame giving off pleasant smell. " Phytochemicals - The chemical constitutes of agarwood originating from the genus Aquilaria, include 2-(2-phenylethyl)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives, terpenoids, flavonoids etc., in which 2-(2-phenylethyl)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives and sesquiterpenes are the two predominant constituents in agarwood.
Botanical Name - Artemisia annua Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves General Information - Artemisia annua belongs to the plant family of Asteraceae and is an annual short-day plant. Its stem is erect brownish or violet brown. The plant itself is hairless and naturally grows from 30 to 100 cm tall, although in cultivation it is possible for plants to reach a height of 200 cm. The leaves of A. annua have a length of 3 - 5 cm and are divided by deep cuts into two or three small leaflets. The intensive aromatic scent of the leaves is characteristic.[8] The artemisinin content in dried leaves is in between 0% and 1.5%.[9] New hybrids of Artemisia annua developed in Switzerland can reach a leaf artemisinin content of up to 2%.[10] The small flowers have a diameter of 2-2.5 mm and are arranged in loose panicles. Their color is green-yellowish. The seeds are brown achenes with a diameter of only 0.6-0.8 mm. Phytochemicals- "The major active constituent of Artemisia annua, Artemisia apiacea, and Artemisia lancea is artemisinin. Derivatives of this compound include arteether, artemether, artemotil, artenimol, artesunate, and dihydroartemisinin, which, along with artemisin, are currently being used to treat drug-resistant and non-drug resistant malaria. The aerial parts of Artemisia annua contain 0.01-0.8 % of artemisinin per dry weight. Other constituents of Artemisia annua include deoxyartemisinin, artemisinic acid, arteannuin-B, stigmasterol, friedelin, friedelan-3 beta-ol, artemetin, and quercetagetin 3',4'-tetramethyl ether. The essential oil of Artemisia annua aerial parts contains 44% camphor, 16% germacrene D, 11% trans-pinocarveol, 9% beta-selinene, 9% beta-caryophyllene, and 3% artemisia ketone."
Botanical Name - Azadirachta indica Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves, Seeds, Bark General Information - Neem (Azadirachta indica), a member of the Meliaceae family, has therapeutics implication in the diseases prevention and treatment. But the exact molecular mechanism in the prevention of pathogenesis is not understood entirely. It is considered that Azadirachta indica shows therapeutic role due to the rich source of antioxidant and other valuable active compounds such as azadirachtin, nimbolinin, nimbin, nimbidin, nimbidol, salannin, and quercetin. Phytochemicals - Leaves contain ingredients such as nimbin, nimbanene, 6-desacetylnimbinene, nimbandiol, nimbolide, ascorbic acid, n-hexacosanol and amino acid, 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylazadiradione, 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylgedunin, 17-hydroxyazadiradione, and nimbiol. Quercetin and -sitosterol, polyphenolic flavonoids, were purified from neem fresh leaves and were known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties and seeds hold valuable constituents including gedunin and azadirachtin.
Botanical Name - Bacopa monnieri Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Whole Plant General Information - Bacopa monnieri (BM), a medicinal Ayurvedic herb. BM is traditionally used for various ailments, but is best known as a neural tonic and memory enhancer. Numerous animal and in vitro studies have been conducted, with many evidencing potential medicinal properties. There is also evidence for potential attenuation of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Phytochemicals - The main nootropic constituents of BM are believed to be dammarane types of triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides, with jujubogenin or pseudo-jujubogenin moieties as aglycone units. Bacosides comprise a family of 12 known analogs. Novel saponins called bacopasides Iâ??XII have been identified more recently. The alkaloids brahmine, nicotine, and herpestine have been catalogued, along with d-mannitol, apigenin, hersaponin, monnierasides IIII, cucurbitacins and plantainoside B. The constituent most studied has been bacoside A, which was found to be a blend of bacoside A3, bacopacide II, bacopasaponin C, and a jujubogenin isomer of bacosaponin C. These assays have been conducted using whole plant extract, and bacoside concentrations may vary depending upon the part from which they are extracted.
Botanical Name - Balanites aegyptica/Balanites roxburghii Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves, Seed, Bark, Fruit General Information - Balanites aegyptiaca Del., also known as Desert date in English, a member of the family Zygophyllaceae, is one of the most common but neglected wild plant species of the dry land areas of Africa and South Asia. This tree is native to much of Africa and parts of the Middle East. In India, it is particularly found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Deccan. This is one of the most common trees in Senegal. It can be found in many kinds of habitat, tolerating a wide variety of soil types, from sand to heavy clay, and climatic moisture levels Phytochemicals - "Leaves It contains saponin, furanocoumarin, and flavonoid namely quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside; 3-glucoside, 3-rutinoside, 3-7-diglucoside and 3-rhamnogalactoside of isorhamnetin.[40,41] Fruit Mesocarp of fruit contains 1.2 to 1.5% protein and 35 to 37% sugars, 15% organic acids, other constituents like 3-rutinoside and 3-rhamnogalactoside,[42] diosgenin;[43] Root It is reported to contain steroidal saponin about 1% glycosides and major sapogenin is yamogenin"
Botanical Name - Beta vulgaris Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Tuberous rhizomes General Information - Beta vulgaris (beet) is a plant which is included in the subfamily Betoideae of the family Amaranthaceae. It is the economically most important crop of the large order Caryophyllales.[2] It has several cultivar groups: the sugar beet, of greatest importance to produce table sugar; the root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet; the leaf vegetable known as chard or spinach beet; and mangelwurzel, which is a fodder crop. Three subspecies are typically recognised. All cultivars fall into the subspecies Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris. The wild ancestor of the cultivated beets is the sea beet Phytochemicals - Red beetroot (Beta vulgaris), as a naturally occurring root vegetable and a rich source of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, is known for its beneficial roles in the improvement of several clinical and pathologic outcome. Chronic and acute beetroot juice supplementation, as a cost-effective strategy, is proposed to hold promises in controlling diabetes and insulin hemostasis, blood pressure and vascular function, renal health and the possible effect on microbiome abundance. The secondary outcome and physiological response of microbiome abundance modulation included the non- significant fluctuation of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Also, some studies have suggested a reno-protective property of beetroot juice that is associated with the reduction of mortality rate and favorable changes in kidneys functional parameters among patients with renal disorders.
Botanical Name - Boerhaavia diffusa Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Roots General Information - Boerhaavia diffusa, commonly known as punarnava in Sanskrit, is a herbaceous plant of the family Nyctaginaceae. The whole plant or its specific parts (leaves, stem, and roots) are known to have medicinal properties and have a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people in India. The medicinal value of this plant in the treatment of a large number of human ailments is mentioned in Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, and Sushrita Samhita. It has many ethnobotanical uses (the leaves are used as vegetable; the root juice is used to cure asthma, urinary disorders, leukorrhea, rheumatism, and encephalitis), and is medicinally used in the traditional, Ayurvedic system. Besides, the B. diffusa plant is reported to posses many pharmacological, clinical, and antimicrobial properties. Phytochemicals- Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that punarnava possesses punarnavoside, which exhibits a wide range of properties â?? diuretic; anti-inflammatory; antifibrinolytic; anticonvulsant; antibacterial; antistress agent; antihepatotoxic; anthelmintic febrifuge, antileprosy, anti-asthmatic, antiscabies, and anti-urethritis; and antinematodal activity. An aqueous extract of thinner roots of B. diffusa at a dose of 2 ml kg-1 exhibited marked protection of various enzymes such as serum glutanicoxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutanic-pyruvic transaminase, and bilirubin in serum against hepatic injury in rats.
Botanical Name - Capsicum frutescens Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Fruit General Information - "Capsicum frutescens is a much-branched, erect, perennial plant growing from 1 - 2 metres tall. The stems can become more or less woody, at least near the base. This species is widely grown throughout the world, but especially in warm temperate to tropical climates for its edible fruit, which is used as a food flavouring, and also for its medicinal virtues. Fruit - raw or cooked. Very hot and normally used as a flavouring. The fruit can be dried and ground into a powder for use as a flavouring. The fruit is up to 7.5cm long and 1cm wide. Seed - dried, ground and used as a pepper. Leaves - cooked as a potherb." Phytochemicals- The fruit is also antihaemorrhoidal, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, sialagogue and stomachic. These pungent fruited peppers are important in the tropics as gastrointestinal detoxifiers and food preservatives. The fruits contain 0.1 - 1.5% capsaicin. This substance stimulates the circulation and alters temperature regulation. Applied to the skin it desensitizes nerve endings and so has been used as a local anaesthetic. The seed contains capsicidins. These are thought to have antibiotic properties.
Botanical Name - Cassia auriculata Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves General Information - Linn commonly known as Tanners Senna, is also known as Avaram tree. It is distributed throughout hot deciduous forests of India. Wild in dry regions of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Rajasthan and other parts of India. Phytochemicals- The chemical composition of the leaves of Cassia auriculata having presence of 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (48.50%), ±-Tocopherol-I-D mannoside (14.22%), Resorcinol (11.80%), n- Hexadecanoic acid (3.21%), 13-Octadecenal, (Z)- (2.18%) and 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolin-6-ol-1-carboxylic acid (1.98%) An antibacterial compound - Oleanolic acid could derived from the leaves of Cassia auriculata.
Botanical Name - Catharanthus roseus Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves, Flower General Information - Catharanthus roseus is a tropical hardy plant grown as a pot ornamental plant for its rosy or white flowers. It is popularly known as Madagascar periwinkle. It is small in size perennial herbaceous evergreen plant that was native to the Madagascar island. The plant has very good tolerance against heat, grows one or two feet high, have glossy, dark green leaves (1-2 inches long) and flowers even in the hot weather. The blooms of the natural wild plants are pale pink with a purple "eye" in their centers, but horticulturists have developed varieties with colors ranging from white to pink to purple. The plant has immense medicinal importance for its alkaloids. All parts of the plant including leaf, root, shoot and stem contains more than 200 alkaloids, which are used for therapeutic purposes against several diseases. The most important alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine are derived from leaves and they exhibits anti-cancer and anti-diabetic property. Another alkaloid rubacine derived from roots is used as hypotensive and anti-arrhythmic agent. Phytochemicals - A wide range of alkaloids has been discovered from C. roseus. More than 130 alkaloids of the indole and the dihydro-indole groups have been isolated and characterized from different plant organs. Vinblastin is very important alkaloid extracted from leaf part of C. roseus.
Botanical Name - Centratherum Anthelminticum Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - "Kalijiri, Ban jira, Vanyajiraka, Somraji, Bitter cumin are few common names of the seeds of a plant, Centratherum anthelminticum. The word anthelminticum in scientific name, clearly suggests the medicinal usage of the plant, which is to treat parasites. Due to hot, sharp, bitter taste, and strong bad odour, Kalijiri is not used in preparation of food but mainly as medicine. In Ayurveda, they are especially used in the treatment of intestinal parasites, and diseases of the skin. They are also used in the treatment of fever, cough, and diarrhea. In India, the seeds of three plants are known as Kalajiri or Black cumin viz. Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae), Bunium persicum (Umbelliferae), and Centratherum anthelminticum (Asteraceae). Also, there are two species of the plant which are known as Somraji, one is Psoralea corylifolia, and other is Centratherum anthelminticum. Both are used in the treatment of the skin diseases, and leukoderma. In Bengal, mainly Centratherum anthelminticum is referred as Somraji or Bakuchi / Babchi." Phytochemicals - "The major classes of chemical constituent present are glycosides, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and tannins, flavanoids, proteins, saponins, sterols, lipids, and fats. The seeds contain about 14.7% carbohydrates, 21.4% fat, 22.5% protein, 29.3% fiber, and 4.9% moisture. The seeds contain fatty acids viz. linoleic acid (50 %), palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid. The main active principle of seeds are Delta-7-avenasterol. They also contain demanolide lactone, vernasterol, Sterols, avenasterol, and vernosterol, a bitter principle, essential oil, resins, and fixed oil consisting of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and vernolic acids."
Botanical Name - Chenopodium Quinoa Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), which is considered a pseudocereal or pseudograin, has been recognized as a complete food due to its protein quality. It has remarkable nutritional properties; not only from its protein content (15%) but also from its great amino acid balance. Phytochemicals - It is an important source of minerals and vitamins, and has also been found to contain compounds like polyphenols, phytosterols, and flavonoids with possible nutraceutical benefits. It has some functional (technological) properties like solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC), gelation, emulsifying, and foaming that allow diversified uses. Besides, it has been considered an oil crop, with an interesting proportion of omega-6 and a notable vitamin E content.
Botanical Name - Chlorophytum borivilianum Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Roots General Information - Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), a herb belongs to family Liliaceae. It was originally grown in thick forests of India,1 is a promising medicinal plant with great economic potential. The appreciation of medicinal value of safed musli tubers has been made in ancient Indian medicine literature right from the 11th century AD. Phytochemicals - The tubers contain saponins and have aphrodisiac, adaptogenic, antiaging, health restorative and health promoting properties. Its root contains steroidal and triterpenoidal saponins, sapogenins and fructans which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phenol, resins, mucilage, and polysaccharides and also contains high quantity of simple sugars, mainly sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose and xylose.
Botanical Name - Citrullus lanatus Category - Super Food Form - Dry Part Used - Seed General Information - Phytochemicals-
Botanical Name - Coriandrum sativum Category - Super Food Form - Dry Part Used - Seed General Information - Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a plant from the family of Apiaceae. Seeds and the herb of coriander, both of which are used as spice or a medicinal plant. It contains flavoring compounds such as linalool, geraniol, pinen, limonene, geranylacetat, terpinen, and borneol. Phytochemicals-
