Herb as health food

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Herb as Health Food

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• A herbaceous plant (in botanical use simply herb) is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground. Herbaceous plants may be annuals, biennials or perennials.

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Uses• Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal and

in some cases spiritual usage. • General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal

herbs.• In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant

might be considered “herbs”, including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (the cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant.

• Culinary use of the term “herb” typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of the plant (either fresh or dried) and spices, from other parts of the plant (usually dried), including seeds, berries, bark, root and fruit.

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Origin of Herbal Medicine

Primitive men and women treated illnesses using plants, animal parts, and minerals not part of a common diet.

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• Physical evidence goes back 60,000 years to the burial site of a Neanderthal man who was buried with 8 species of plants.

• Seven of these plants are still used in medicine today.

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Garlic plant• Garlic, Allium sativum, is a root crop

(meaning the bulb grows underground) of the family Alliaceae

• It is among the oldest of all cultivated plants; in facts, its species name, sativum, means cultivated

• The leaves are long, narrow and flat like grass

• It is a member of the same group of plants as the onion, chive and leek

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Garlic Bulb

• The bulb of Allium sativum is the only part of the plant eaten

• It is compound in nature, consisting of numerous bulbils, known technically as cloves

• The cloves are grouped together between the membranous scales and enclosed within a whitish skin, which holds them as in a sac

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History

• Originated from Central Asia, garlic have been used as a spice, food and folklore medicine for over 500 years, and is the most widely researched medicinal plant

• Through trade, garlic spread its popularity throughout Asia and eventually to Egypt and Europe. The age of Exploration helped to propagate the use of garlic to other parts of the world.

• Today somewhere between 300-400 varieties of garlic cultivate worldwide. In the United States, over250 million pounds of garlic consumed each year.

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Medicinal History of Garlic• In traditional Chinese medicine, Islamic medicine, folklore medicine and the

Ayurvedic system of medicine, several spices and herbs including garlic are described to possess medicinal properties

• In China, garlic tea has long been recommended for fever, headache and cholera

• In rural Japan, miso-soup containing garlic is used as remedy for the common cold with headache, fever and sore throat

• The Egyptian medical Codex Eber papyrus dating to about 1550 B.C., includes 22 therapeutic formulations that mention garlic as an effective remedy for a variety of ailment including heart problems, headache, bites, worms and tumors

• Dioscorides wrote of garlic ability to “clear the arteries” dated back to the first century A.D.

• From the Roman antiquity through World War I, garlic poultices were used to prevent wound infections

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• Early 1853, the famous microbiologist, Louis Pasteur, performed several original work showing that garlic could kill bacteria

• In 1916, the British government issued a general plea for the public to supply it with garlic in order to meet wartime needs.

• Garlic was called “Russian penicillin” during World War II because, after running out of antibiotic, the Russian government turned to this ancient treatment for its soldiers

• After World War II, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals manufactured a garlic compound for intestinal spasms, and the Van Patten Company produced another for Lowering blood pressure

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Common uses and benefits of garlic consumption

• Common cold prevention• Heart disease prevention• Antiseptic• Antimicrobial activities• Insect repellent• Anticancer effects• Strengthen immune system• Antioxidant effects• Anti coagulation effect• High cholesterol• Hypertension

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Few Compounds Isolates From Garlic Bulbs

• Ajoene• Allicin• Alliin• Allyl disulfides• Allyl sulfides• Allyl trisulfides• Cycloalliin• Cysteine• Cysteine sulfoxides• Cystine• Diallyl sulfides

• Dimethyl sulfides• Disulfides• Glutathione• Methionine• Methyl sulfides• Pseudoscordinine• Scordinine• Sulfanes• Tetrathiol• Thiosulfinates• trisulfides

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S

S

O

Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin)

S

COOH

O NH2

S-allylcysteine sulfoxide (Alliin)

S

COOH

O NH2S

COOH

O NH2

S-propylcysteine sulfoxide

S-methylcystein sulfoxide

S

S

S

S

Diallyltetrasulfide

S

S

O

Allylmethanesulfinate

S

S

Dipropylsulfide

S

Dimethylsulfide

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S

S

S

Methylallyltrisulfide

S

S

Diallyldisulfide

S

S

Dimethyldisulfide

S

S

O

Methykmethanesulfinate

S

Dipropylsulfide

S

S

S

Diallyltrisulfide

S

S

O

Allylmethylthiosulfinate

S

S

Methylpropyldisulfide

S

S

3-vinyl-6H-1,2-dithiin

S

S

3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin

S

S

3-vinyl-6H-1,3-dithiin

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Garlic and Cancer

• Ancients Egyptians, Indians and Greeks all used garlic externally to treat tumors

• Studies in China and Switzerland link regular garlic consumption with decreased risk for stomach and colorectal cancer

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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Introduction:• Known as the “queen of forages”• Alfalfa is also called Lucerne• Originated near Iran• First introduced to America in 1736 by colonists• Oldest cover crop in the United States• Very high yield legume• Very good pasture crop

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Description

• Is a herbaceous perennial legume• Mature alfalfa usually has 5-25 stems• Height 15-25 inches (38-63 cm)• Leaves alternating on stem• Leaflets are linear oblong and toothed

towards end• Commonly known as maidenhair• Known for its green, fan-shaped leaves that

turn yellow in autumn• Unique seeds (not used in extracts)• Extracts prepared from dried, green whole

leaves

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Nutritional value• Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium and other minerals,

vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.

• The sun-dried hay of alfalfa has been found to be a source of vitamin D, containing 48 ng/g (1920 IU/kg) vitamin D2 and 0.63 ng/g (25 IU/kg) vitamin D3.

• There is reference to vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 being found in the alfalfa shoot; this is awaiting verification.

• Mushrooms are not allowed in Jain vegetarianism, making alfalfa the only known source Jains can use to make vitamin D2 supplements.

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Traditional medicine• Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years.• In early Chinese medicines, physicians used young alfalfa leaves

to treat disorders related to the digestive tract and the kidneys.• In Ayurvedic medicine, physicians used the leaves for treating

poor digestion.• They made a cooling poultice from the seeds for boils.• At the time, alfalfa was also believed to be beneficial to people

suffering from arthritis and water retention.• The United States National Institutes of Health reports there is

insufficient evidence to evaluate the medicinal value of alfalfa.

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Ginkgo

• Ginkgo is a genus of highly unusual non-flowering plants.

• Ginkgo biloba• also known as the maidenhair tree• Native to China, the tree is widely

cultivated and was introduced early to human history.

• It has various uses in traditional medicine and as a source of food.

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Structures• Phenolic Compound

O

R3

R4

R1

R2

OOH

HO

OH O

Amentoflavone: R1=R2=R3=R4=HBilobetin: R1=OCH3, R2=R3=OH, R4=HGinkgetin: R1=R2=OCH3, R3=OH, R4=HIsoginkgetin: R1=R3=OCH3, R2=OH, R4=H5'-methyloxybilobetin: R1=R4=OCH3, R2=R3=OHSciadopitysin: R1=R2=R3=OCH3, R4=H

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Other positive effect of Ginkgo

• Improvements in cerebral metabolism (increases the efficiency of the oxygen that’s present)

• Increase in the release of neurotransmitters• Antioxidant activity• Prevention of free radical damage

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Side Effects

• Few and far between• The 5 reported cases have included

hemorrhage, hematoma (rupture of blood vessels), and hyphema (bleeding in eye).

• In all trials <0.5% reported minor side effects including headaches, GI distress and allergic skin reactions.

• Overall, ginkgo is relatively safe.

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Newest Research

• Ginkgo as an anti-cancer agent• In vitro exposure of human breast cancer and

bladder cancer cells to ginkgo extract• Possible reasons• Gingko in treatment of diabetes• Treatment of diabetes symptoms (similar to its

effects on the vascular system)• Role of platelet-activating factor (PAF)

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Dosage & Toxicity

• Ginkgo Biloba should be taken for 6-8 weeks before seeing small improvements (3-4 months for larger effects)

• Oral dose of 120-240 mg 2-3 times daily• Gingko supplements are not recommended 36

hours before surgery

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Adverse Effects

• rare occurrence of side effects• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness,

palpitations, restlessness, weakness and skin rash• ingestion or contact with pulp leads to erythema,

edema, pruritis and GI irritation• should not be used with antithrombotic therapies

(e.g. warfarin, heparin, aspirin), and extracts of garlic or ginger b/c of PAF antagonistic effects

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Ginseng

• Comes from the family Araliaceae• Angiosperm• 13 species of Panax are considered to be

ginseng• Considered to be a cure-all• Found in Asia and North America• Two important species: P. ginseng (Asian) and

P. quinquefolius (American)

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More General Facts…

• Root is the medicinal part of the plant• Root can live for 100+ years• Can be taken in form of tea or as a tonic,

stimulant & adaptogen• Number of users estimated in the millions &

growing annually

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Physical Description

• Smooth prernnial herb• Large, fleshy, slow-growing root• Spindle shaped & heavily annulated• Color ranges from pale yellow to a brownish

color• Stem is simple, bearing three leaves• A few small, yellowish flowers• Fruit is a cluster of red berries

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Ancient Uses

• Charms• Ensure sexual potency• Guard health• Prolong life & relieve pain• Strengthening mental powers• Eye wash & ear aches• Stopped bleeding & enhanced healing• Frighten away ghosts

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Has Been Known To Work As A…Antidote• Anti-inflammatory• Anti-tumor agent• Anti-diabetic• Cardio-tonic

And Also As A…• Hypoglycemic• Immuno-stimulant• Panacea• Stimulant• Stomachic• Tonic

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Current Uses

• Blood Conditions• Brain &Nervous system• Cardiovascular• Immune system• Gastrointestinal• Genitourinary• Glandular• Inflammatory• Respiratory tract• Menstruation• Others

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Blood Conditions• Blood diseases• Hemorrhages

Brain & Nervous System• Stress• Drug & Alcohol Abuse• Depression• Enhances memory• Concentration & cognitive abilities• Physical & mental activity• Insomnia• Alzheimer’s disease• Stimulates CNS

Cardiovascular• Aids in prevention of CV disease

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• Cures pulmonary complaints• Cardiac arrhythmia• Heart attach & heart failure• Increases blood circulation• Regulates blood pressure• Palpitations• Long term debility & neurosis• May raise HDL levels & lower total cholesterol• Regulates basal metabolic rate• May decrease endothelial cell dysfunction

Immune System• Stimulate the immune system• Improves resistance to infection• Increases resistance to stress & disease

Gastrointestinal• Stimulates appetite

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Genitourinary• Increases production of body fluids• Removes more waste productsGlandular Conditions• Benefits the endocrine system

Pituitary glandsAdrenal glands

Inflammatory• Inflammatory illnesses• Works well when combined with licorice

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Respiratory Tract• Asthma• Colds• Cough• Dyspnea• Various chest problems• Improved respiratory functions in severe chronic respiratory diseases:

-Chronic bronchitisOthers• Aids recovery from disease or surgery• Boosts energy levels• May reduce risk of certain cancers• Diabetes• Dissolves tumors• Helps in sugar & fat metabolism

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And Even More Uses…• Minimizes effects of radiation &

chemotherapy• Relieves fatigue/Increases endurance• Maintains excellent body functions• Normalizes functioning

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Chemistry

Contains 25+ triterpenoid saponin glycosidesAlso contains• Flavonoids• Glycans• Peptides• Vitamins A & B6• Volatile oils• Sugars• Lipids• Phenolic substances

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Side Effects

• Ginseng is a Stimulant!!• Hypertension• Insomnia• Irritability• Decreased sexual function• Euphoria• Headaches• Menstrual abnormalities• Palpitations• Skin eruptions• Tremors

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Should NOT Be Used If You Have…• Acute asthma• Acute infections• Hypertension Or If You Take…• Caffeine or other CNS stimulants• Morphine• Haloperidol• MAO inhibitors• Blood thinning medication• Aspirin• Warfarin

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Onion

• The onion (Allium cepa), which is also known as the bulb onion, common onion is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium

Culinary uses• Frying onions• Onions are often chopped and used as an ingredient in various hearty

warm dishes, and may also use as a main ingredient in their own right, for example in French onion soup or onion chutney. They are also used raw in cold salads. Onions are also used as a thickening agent for curries providing a bulk of the base. Onions pickled in vinegar are eaten as a snack.

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Medicinal properties and health effects of onions• Diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases.

They contain chemical compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory, anticholesterol, anticancer properties

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HoneyHoney is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers.

Nutrition• Fructose: 38.2%• Glucose: 31.3%• Maltose: 7.1%• Sucrose: 1.3%• Water: 17.2%• Higher sugars: 1.5%• Ash: 0.2%• Other/undetermined: 3.2%

Medicinal uses• Historically, honey has been used by humans to treat a variety of ailments, from gastric

disturbances to ulcers, wounds and burns, through ingestion or topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey been chemically explained.