www.malaysianherbals.com-- (35)spinacia oleoracea முளைக்கீரை

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spinacia oleoracea     முளைக்கீரை

SPINACH Spinach is not known in a wild state. It probably originated in northern Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan where related wild species such as Spinacia tetrandraSteven ex M.Bieb. and Spinacea turkestanica Iljin can be found. It spread to China in the 7th century and to Europe in the 12th century. Spinach is now cultivated worldwide, mostly in temperate regions, but also in the cooler parts of the tropics. In tropical Africa it is grown to a limited extent in the highland areas of East and southern Africa. One of the most important potherbs cultivated, spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is an especially good source of vitamins A and C. Planting and culture of Spinach Any good, well-drained garden soil will suit spinach provided it is not acid. The preferred pH is between 6 and 7. Soils that are more acidic should be limed at whatever rate is indicated by a soil test. Spinach requires an abundance of plant food, especially nitrogen. For proper soil preparationt the earth should be well spaded to a depth of six inches with well-rotted manure or compost incorporated. Lime only after the manure has been added. Beneficial companion plant A plant that is benificial to spinach for both growth and insect control is strawberries. For information on other vegetable companion plants see the companion planting chart. Spinach is an important green leafy vegetable in temperate climates. The entire above-ground part of young plants or the tops of older plants are generally consumed after light cooking. Raw spinach is sometimes eaten in salads. In Africa it is entirely a fresh market product; in western Europe and North America more than half of the produce is processed into canned or deep-frozen products . Spinach is one of the richest sources of beta carotene. Beta carotene is transformed into vitamin A in the intestine.  About Spinach:  Beta carotene helps in reducing oxidative stress of the free radical. Thiamine is present in spinach that is absorbed by the body. Thiamine helps in the transformation of carbohydrates to energy.  Folic acid is found in abundance in spinach. Folic acid helps in the prevention of anemia. Folic acid should be consumed by the pregnant women for the proper development of the babies in the fetus. Folic acid also helps in the combination of proteins.  Spinach and Vitamins: Vitamin C is also present in spinach Vitamin C has the properties of the antioxidants. Vitamin C helps in the development of the immunity. Vitamin C also helps in the accumulation of iron in the body. Vitamin C also helps in the development of the gums and teeth.  Vitamin E is found the spinach. Vitamin E has the properties of the antioxidants that hep in the development of the reproductive system. Vitamin E also helps in the improving the condition of the skin and hair. Vitamin K is also found in spinach. Vitamin K helps in the clotting of blood. Vitamin K also prevents the deposition of calcium in the walls of the arteries. The prevention of deposition of calcium on the walls of the arteries do not restrict the flow of blood through the heart. The end result is the prevention of cardiac diseases.  Vitamin C and beta carotene prevent the risks of colon cancer. The presence of vitamin E in spinach prevents the deterioration of the brain cells. Spinach is one of the richest sources of iron. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin that help in the transportation of oxygen from the lungs to various tissues of the body.thanks to seetha geetha.com Wash and dry leavesIn order to preserve the largest possible amount of the vitamins and minerals in spinach, the leaves should be washed as quickly as possible, without soaking, and dried by whirling in a salad basket. Water left on the leaves dissolves vitamin C, sugars and minerals, and spoils the flavor of the cooked product. Cooking Spinach To cook, heat as quickly as possible in a small amount of water, then reduce the heat and cover, allowing it to steam. The spinach is ready to serve after about five minutes or as soon as the leaves have wilted. Varieties of Spinach There are two types: one with crumpled leaves, of which Long Standing Bloomsdale and Virginia Savoy are the most popular; the other with thicker, smoother leaves, as typified by King of Denmark and Nobel. Neither of these go to seed as readily as the others. Varieties recommended for freezing are: Giant Nobel, Viking, Long Standing Blooms-dale, Northland, and Hybrid No. 7. Disease-resistant varieties include Winter Bloomsdale, Hybrid No. 7 and Melody Hybrid.

New Zealand spinach New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is not true spinach and does not resemble spinach in growth pattern, but when cooked and served there is little difference between them. It has the great merit of flourishing in summer heat, and as its leaves are picked, others grow to replace them. Because of the outer shells, seed should be soaked in water or scored before planting. Malabar spinach                                                     (35) Malabar spinach (Basella albs) is another excellent substitute for spinach, either cooked or raw. It can be grown on a fence and will thrive in warm weather. It is susceptible to frost injury.

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www.malaysianherbals.com -(26)santalinu செஞ்சந்தனம்

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சிவப்புச்சந்தனம் (ciwappuccantanam)

Pterocarpus santalinu

Pterocarpus santalinus, a Southeast Asian tree of the pea family (Fabaceae). This species may have been the source of the sandalwood used in King Solomon’s temple.

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  Many other woods are used as substitutes for true sandalwood. Red sandalwood is obtained from the reddish-coloured wood of Pterocarpus santalinus, a Southeast Asian tree of the pea family (Fabaceae). This species may have been the source of the sandalwood used in King Solomon’s temple.

Pterocarpus santalinus (Telugu: రక్తచందనము (raktachandana), (Tamil: சிவப்புச்சந்தனம் (ciwappuccantanam); Red Sanders orRed Sandalwood) is a species of Pterocarpus native to India. It is only found in south India in Kadapa, Chittoor and most in hilly region of Nepal. . In Nepal sandalwood is one main and lucrative market for smugglers as high price is paid for this wood in China. Since, the exporting of sandlewood was legalised in Nepal, the underground market is growing and there are number of arrests every year of those trying to smuggle and this wood to China.It is a light-demanding small tree growing to 8 m tall with a trunk 50–150 cm diameter. It is fast-growing when young, reaching 5 m tall in three years even on degraded soils. It is not frost tolerant, being killed by temperatures of −1 °C. The leaves are alternate, 3–9 cm long, trifoliate with three leaflets. The flowers are produced in short racemes. The fruit is a pod 6–9 cm long containing one or two seeds.

Useful part

Heartwood, fruits, stem bark

Medicinal Uses

Headache, burning sensation, vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentery, boils, scorpion sting, skin diseases, leprosy, ulcers, bleedings, inflammations, fever, eye diseases, general debility, mental aberrations,  semen coagulation

Major chemical constituents

lupenone, epilupeol, lupeol, eudesmol, pterocarpolone, pterocarpol, cryptomeridiol

 

In Siddha medicine red sandal and white sandal are the most needed herbs in Leyhiams  to cool the  three thoshas and the body. It is cut into small pieces as shown and then powdered to prepare medicines.

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www.malaysianherbals.com(25)சிறியாநங்கை

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சிறியா நங்கை என் பொதுவாக எண்ணப்படும் 

அல்லது அறியப்படும் நிலவேம்பு

Andrographis paniculata

 This  is an erect annual herb extremely bitter in taste in all parts of the plant body. The plant is known in north-eastern India as Maha
-tita, literally "king of bitters", and known by various vernacular names (see the table below).
 As an Siddha  herb it is called SIRIA NANGAI and Ayurveda herb it is known as Kalmegh or Kalamegha, meaning "dark cloud". It is also known as Bhui-neem, meaning "neem of the ground", since the plant, though being a small annual herb, has a similar strong bitter taste as that of the large Neem tree (Azadirachta indica). 
In Malaysia, it is known as Hempedu Bumi, which literally means 'bile of earth' since it is one of the most bitter plants that are used in traditional medicine. The genus Andrographis consists of 28 species of small annual shrubs essentially distributed in tropical Asia.

 Only a few species are 

 medicinal, of which A
.
 paniculata is the most 

popular.

Description

Andrographis paniculata grows erect to a height of 30–110 cm in moist, shady places. The slender stem is dark green, squared in cross-section with longitudinal furrows and wings along the angles. The lance-shaped leaves have hairless blades measuring up to 8 centimeters long by 2.5 wide. The small flowers are borne in spreading racemes. The fruit is a capsule around 2 centimeters long and a few millimeters wide. It contains many yellow-brown seeds.Distribution

A. paniculata is distributed in tropical Asian countries, often in isolated patches. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as plains, hillsides, coastlines, and disturbed and cultivated areas such as roadsides, farms, and wastelands. Native populations of A. paniculata are spread throughout south India and Sri Lanka which perhaps represent the center of origin and diversity of the species. The herb is an introduced species in northern parts of India, Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, the West Indies, and elsewhere in the Americas. The species also occurs in Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, and other parts of Asia where it may or may not be native. The plant is cultivated in many areas, as well.

Unlike other species of the genus, A. paniculata is of common occurrence in most places in India, including the plains and hilly areas up to 500 m, which accounts for its wide use. Since time immemorial, village and ethnic communities in India have been using this herb for treating a variety of ailments.
Cultivation

It does best in a sunny location. The seeds are sown during May and June. The seedlings are transplanted at a distance of 60 cm x 30 cm.
Medicinal use

Since ancient times, A. peniculata is used in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic systems of medicine as well as in tribal medicine in India and some other countries for multiple clinical applications. From a biomedicinal perspective, the therapeutic value of Kalmegh is due to its mechanism of action which is perhaps by enzyme induction. The plant extract exhibits antityphoid and antifungal activities. Kalmegh is also reported to possess antihepatotoxic, antibiotic, antimalarial, antihepatitic, antithrombogenic, anti inflammatory anti-snake venom, and antipyretic properties to mention a few, besides its general use as an immunostimulant agent.

 A study conducted at Bastyr University, showed a significant rise in the mean CD4 lymphocyte level of HIV subjects after administration of 10 mg/kg andrographolide, the chief constituent extracted from the leaves of the plant.

The herb has shown an ability to reduce inflammation (heat) and fight viral infection, and is used as a principal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicinal formulas for lung support from colds.Andrographolide is a bitter water-soluble lactone exhibiting protective effects in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Its LD in male mice was 11.46 gm/kg, . This bitter principle was isolated in pure form by Gorter (1911). Such other activities as liver protection under various experimental conditions of treatment with galactosamine, paracetamol etc. are also attributed to andrographolide. The hepatoprotective action of andrographolide is related to activity of certainmetabolic enzymes.                                                                               ^[

Andrographis paniculata plant extract is known to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. 

Andrographolide, the major constituent of the extract, is implicated in its pharmacological activity. A study has been conducted on the cellular processes and targets modulated by andrographolide treatment in human cancer and immune cells. Andrographolide treatment inhibited the in vitro proliferation of different tumor cell lines, representing various types of cancers. 

The compound exerts direct anticancer activity on cancer cells by cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase through induction of cell cycle inhibitory protein p27 and decreased expression of cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4)Immunostimulatory activity of andrographolide is evidenced by increased proliferation of lymphocytes and production of interleukin 2. Andrographolide also enhanced the tumor necrosis factor α production and CD marker expression, resulting in increased cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against cancer cells, which may contribute for its indirect anticancer activity. The in vivo anticancer activity of the compound is further substantiated against B16F0 melanoma syngenic and HT 29 xenograft models. These results suggest that andrographolide is an interesting pharmacophore with anticancer and immunomodulatory activities and hence has the potential for being developed as a cancer therapeutic agent

In one Chilean study, the herb had a significant drying effect on the nasal secretions of cold sufferers who took 1,200 milligrams of andrographis extract daily for five days. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials also suggested the herb alone or in combination with eleuthero may be an appropriate alternative treatment of uncomplicated acute upper respiratory tract infection.

The herb is the well-known drug Kalmegh 'green chiretta', and forms the principal ingredient of a household medicine ('alui'), used as a bitter tonic and febrifuge

The Tamils have been using Nilavempu - as it is called in Tamil - for centuries. In Siddha medicine, Andrographis Paniculata is used widely to treat fevers like chikenguinea, swine-flu, typhoid etc.

A recent(2011)randomised, double-blind, multicentre,study found Andrographis paniculata as effective as mesalazine (mesalamine) in ulcerative colitis. Further, andrographolide inhibits interleukin-6 expression and suppresses prostate cancer cell growth in vitro.

Andrographis has been shown to be a safe traditional botanical for supporting upper respiratory tract health, per analysis of seven double-blind controlled trials.The herb has been shown to inhibit RANTES secretion in inflamed bronchial cells. 
 RANTES is a chemoattractant for eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes that is stored in, and released by, platelets and activated T-cells. In related research: Andrographolide, an active ingredient in Andrographis, has been shown to be responsible for the herb's inflammatory modulating actions, including the reduction of cytokine and peritoneal deposition of neutrophils, and modulation of lung inflammation in vivo. Extracts of Andrographis exhibit potent inflammatory modulating and antioxidant actions in mouse models

Andrographis paniculata extracts are mosquito repellent and can also be adulticidal to mosquitoes, viz., Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti.

Phytochemistry

Andrographolide is the major constituent extracted from the leaves of the plant which is a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone. This bitter principle was isolated in pure form by Gorter (1911). Such other activities as liver protection under various experimental conditions of treatment with galactosamine (Saraswat et al., 1995), paracetamol (Visen et al., 1993) etc. are also attributed to Andrographolide. 
The hepatoprotective action of andrographolide is related to the activity of certain metabolic enzymes (Choudhury and Poddar, 1984, 1985; Choudhury et al., 1987). Systematic studies on chemistry of A. paniculata have been carried out. 

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