www.malaysianherbals.com-Mimosa Pudica --(53)தொட்டால் சிணுங்கி

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Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
                                                                   தொட்டால் சிணுங்கி

தொட்டால் சிணுங்கியின் மகிமையை அறிவீர்களா நீங்கள்?
  Mimosa pudica is native to South America and Central America. It has been introduced to many other regions and is regarded as an invasive species in Tanzania, South Asia and South East Asia and many Pacific Islands. It is regarded as invasive in parts of Australia and is a declared weed in the Northern Territory, and Western Australia although not naturalized there. Control is recommended in Queensland. It has also been introduced to Nigeria, Seychelles, Mauritius and East Asia but is not regarded as invasive in those places. In the United States of America, it grows in Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the Virgin Islands.

Non-English common names in other European language/culture areas include não-me-toque (touch-me-not), sensitiva (sensitive) or dormideira(roughly "sleeper") in the Portuguese language (with the former being more common in Portugal, Africa and Rio de Janeiro, the middle in São Paulo city and the Southern capitals and the latter elsewhere in Brazil), while in Spanish it varies in names such as morí-viví or moriviví (Dominican Republic and other Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands, roughly translating to "I died, I lived") and dormilona (Costa Rica and elsewhere inCentral America, roughly translating to "sleepyhead", as in Brazil).

In Austronesia names vary more: in the Philippines it is called makahiya, with maka- meaning "quite" or "tendency to be", and -hiya meaning "shy", or "shyness"),^{[citation needed]} while in Tonga for example it is known as mateloi (false death),being putri malu (shy princess) in Indonesiaand pokok semalu (shy plant) in Malaysia.

In South Asia many unrelated names are also common. In Urdu it is known as chhui-mui ("that which dies upon touch"). In Bengali, the shrub is known as lojjaboti ("the bashful girl"). In Malayalam it is called thottavaadi ("wilts by touch"). In Marathi it is called lazalu ("shy"). In Tamil, it is called thotta-siningi ("acts when touched") and in Kannada, it is known as muttidare muni (ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಮುನಿ ಗಿಡ; "angered by touch"). In Burmese(Myanmar) it is called hti ka yoan, which means "crumbles when touched"

http://youtu.be/vNItcjXiT30

This plant will bring hours of entertainment to kids of any age. The Sensitive Plant actually moves when you touch its leaves. The fine leaflets open in the daylight, yet when touched will collapse downward. Give them an hour or so and up they’ll come again. As plants mature, they form small pink puffs of bloom adding an extra benefit to this unique species. What a perfect way to introduce children to the world of plants.

This plant is a member of the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae). The leaves are "compound," composed of leaflets surrounding a central spine. When touched, the leaflets close in around the central spine. What if any is the evolutionary advantage to this characteristic?

Mimosa pudica was first formally described by Carl Linnaeusin Species Plantarum in 1753.[5] The species epithet,pudica, is Latin for "bashful" or "shrinking", alluding to its shrinking reaction to contact.

hemical constituents

Mimosa pudica contains the toxic alkaloid mimosine, which has been found to also have antiproliferative and apoptotic effects.The extracts of Mimosa pudica immobilize the filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis in less than one hour. Aqueous extracts of the roots of the plant have shown significant neutralizing effects in the lethality of the venom of the monocled cobra (Naja Kaouthia). It appears to inhibit the myotoxicity and enzyme activity of cobra venom. Thanks Vikipedia    

 தொட்டால் சிணுங்கி தமிழ் நாட்டில் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் ஈரப்பதமான இடங்களில் தானே வளரக் கூடியது. இது தரையில் படர்ந்து 5 அடி வரை படரும் அதே சமயம் இது 60 செ.மீ. உயரமும் இருக்கும். சிறு செடி வகையைச் சார்ந்தது. ஆற்று ஓரங்களில் அதிகமாகக் காணப்படும். சிறு முட்கள் இருக்கும். இலைகள் ஜோடியாக எதிர் அடுக்கில் கூட்டாக இருக்கும். ஒவ்வொரு கிளைக்கும் சுமார் 10-25 எதிர் அடுக்கு இலைகள் உள் நோக்கி இருக்கும். இலைகள் இடையில் ஊதா நிறப் பூக்கள் மேலே சிவப்பாகவும் அடியில் ஊதா நிறத்திலும் இருக்கும் பூவில் குச்சிகள் ஒரு செ.மீ. நீளத்தில் சிலிர்த்துள்ளது போல் இருக்கும். காய்கள் 2.5 மி.மி. நீளத்தில் இருக்கும். பூக்கள் காற்று மூலமும் பூச்சிகள் மூலமும் மகரந்தச் சேர்க்கை ஏற்படும். இதன் இலைகள் மாலைக்கு மேல் உட்பக்கமாக மூடிக்கொள்ளும். சூரிய உதையத்தின் போது மறுபடியும் தெளிந்து கொள்ளும். மனிதர்கள் தொட்டாலும், அதிர்வு ஏற்பட்டாலும் தொடர்ச்சியாக இலைகள் மூடிக்கொள்ளும். இதனை ஆங்கிலத்தில் ‘Touch-me-not’ என்றும் சொல்வார்கள். மூடிய இலைகள் பகலில் அரை மணி நேரம் கடந்து விரிந்து கொள்ளும். இதன் பூர்வீகம் வட அமரிக்கா
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www.malaysianherbals.com- Pinnapple (Ananas comosus)-(52)அன்னாசிப்பழம்

 Pinnapple                  அன்னாசிப்பழம்  

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One of the most prized and popular fruits, pineapple or "ananas" has an interesting history to narrate. The fruit is actually indigenous to Paraguay, in South America. It spread from its native by the local Indians up through the South and Central Americas and to the West Indies. Later, it was brought to Spain when Columbus discovered Americas’ in 1493, from where; it spread to rest of the world by the sailors (just like tomatoes) who carried it along with them for protection from scurvy (a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin C) wherever they went.

Scientifically, it is known as "Ananas comosus" and belongs to the family of Bromeliaceae, in the genus; Ananas.

Pineapple is a tropical, perennial, drought-tolerant plant that grows up to 5-8 ft in height and spreads around about three to four ft. It is essentially a short, stout stem with a rosette of waxy long, needle-tipped leaves.

The plant bears several long, oval to cylindrical fruits during each season from March until June.

The fruit is described as compound (multiple) type of fruit that develops from many small fruits fused together around central core. Its pulp is juicy and fleshy with the stem serving as a supporting fibrous core. The outer skin features rough, tough, scaly rind. The color in the ripe fruits may change to yellow, orange-yellow or reddish. Internally, its juicy flesh may range from creamy white to yellow color and has a mix of sweet and tart taste with rich flavor. Each fruit measures in size up to 12 inches long and weighs 1 to 8 pounds or more.

Health benefits of Pineapple fruit

• Fresh pineapple is low in calories. Nonetheless, ii is a storehouse of several unique health promoting compounds, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.
• 100 g fruit provides just about 50 calories equivalent to that of apples. Its flesh contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber like pectin.
• Pineapple fruit contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain that digests food by breaking down protein. Bromelain also has anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting and anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that consumption of pineapple regularly helps fight against arthritis, indigestion and worm infestation.
• Fresh pineapple is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin; vitamin C. 100 g fruit contains 47.8 or 80% of this vitamin. Vitamin C is required for the collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
• It also contains small amount Vitamin A (provides 58 IU per 100 g) and beta-carotene levels. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes, skin and essential for vision. Studies have suggested that consumption of natural fruits rich in flavonoids helps the human body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• In addition, this fruit is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin and minerals like copper, manganese and potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is a helpful cofactor for red blood cell synthesis. Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger.
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Selection and storagePineapple or ananas season lasts from March until June when fresh fruits available in the markets at their best. In the store, choose that are heavy for their size. While larger fruits will have a greater proportion of edible flesh, there is usually no difference in quality between a small and large-size pineapple.

Choose fruit that should be free of soft spots, mold, bruises and darkened "eyes," all of which may indicate that the fruit is past its prime. Some people judge freshness, ripeness and quality by tapping a finger against the side of the fruit. A good, ripe pineapple has a dull, solid sound while immaturity and poor quality are indicated by a hollow thud. It stops ripening as soon as it is picked; therefore, choose fruit with a fragrant sweet smell at the stem end. Avoid those that smell musty, sour or fermented.

Ripe fruits perish quickly if left at room temperature and should be eaten rather early. Moreover, since they are chill sensitive and therefore, cannot be stored in the refrigerator for long periods. However, if not readily eaten; you may prepare the fruit and place the whole or cut sections wrapped inside a thin plastic cover in the refrigerator for 1-2 days for later use.

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www.malaysianherbals.com -Calotropis Gigantea-- (51)எருக்கஞ்செடி

http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com  எருக்கம் செடி

Calotropis gigantea (Crown flower) is a species of Calotropis

native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri 

Lanka, India and China 

Calotropis gigantea.

Common names: Giant Milkweed, Crown Flower, Swallow Wort.

Plant: 2.4-3m.Common Hindi names: Aak, Alarkh, Madar, Sveta Arka.

Flower: 5.1cm across.

One of the two common species of Calotropis, native to India. The other being Calotropis procera (Rakta Arka).

Calotropis grows wild up to 900 meters throughout the country on a variety of soils in different climates, sometimes where nothing else grows.

Calotropis is used as a traditional medicinal plant with unique properties.
 Traditionally Calotropis is used alone or with other medicinals to treat common disease such as fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, cough, cold, eczema, asthma, elephantiasis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. According to Ayurveda, dried whole plant is a good tonic, expectorant, depurative, and anthelmintic. The dried root bark is a substitute for ipecacuanha.
The root bark is febrifuge, anthelmintic, depurative, expectorant, and laxative.
The powdered root used in asthama, bronchitis, and dyspepsia.
 The leaves are useful in the treatment of paralysis, arthralegia, swellings, and intermittent fevers. The flowers are bitter, digestive, astringent, stomachic, anthelmintic, and tonic. Calotropis is also a reputed Homoeopathic drug.

 Fermented mixture of Calotropis and salt is used to remove the hair from goat skins for production of "nari leather" and of sheep skins to make leather which is much used for inexpensive book-binding.

 Fungicidal and insecticidal properties of Calotropis have been reported

                               எருக்கஞ்செடி

நீல எருக்கு,ராம எருக்கு என ஒன்பது வகையான எருக்குகள் இருக்கின்றன என சித்தவைத்தியர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.எருக்கஞ்செடி 12 ஆண்டுகள் மழையில்லாமல் இருந்தாலும் கூட,சூரிய ஒளியிலுள்ள தண்ணீரை கிரகித்து வளரும் தன்மை கொண்டது.அதன் பருவகாலத்தில் பூத்து,காய்த்து,வளர்ந்துவிடும்.இதில் விஷேச அம்சம் கொண்டதுதான் வெள்ளெருக்கு.இதை வீட்டிலும் வளர்க்கலாம்.இதன் பூவை வைத்து விநாயகருக்கும்,சிவனுக்கும் அர்ச்சனை செய்யலாம்.வெள்ளெருக்கம் பூ சங்கை பஸ்மமாக்கப் பயன்படுகிறது.வெள்ளெருக்கு பட்டையை நூலுக்குப் பதில் விளக்குத்திரியாக போட்டு வீட்டில் எரிக்க சகல பூதங்களும் விலகி ஓடும்.வெள்ளெருக்கு வடவேரில் மணிமாலை செய்யலாம்.விநாயகர் செய்து வழிபடலாம்.ஆகர்ஷணம் எட்டு வகைப்படும்.இதில் தன ஆகர்ஷணம் பண வரவை அள்ளிக் கொடுக்கக் கூடியது இந்த வெள்ளெருக்கு விநாயகர்..

       

BUSH TEMPALANG

Calotropis yields a durable fiber (commercially known as Bowstring of India) useful for ropes, carpets, fishing nets, and sewing thread. Floss, obtained from seeds, is used for stuffing purposes.

A poultice of the leaves is applied for rheumatism, filariasis, wounds, glandular swellings,   eczema, pigmentation and other skin inflammations. The latex acts as a purgative, used in treating ascites of kapha type and hepatosplenomegaly ascites. 

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