Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Natural Food and Pharmaceutical Colors Given below are the list of the plant derived colors used in food and medicines(even the capsule colors).  Most of these are well known herbal medicines.  They impart a number of other benefits also.  Most of the colors like saffron, turmeric that are used in food, are good preservatives (antioxidants).  I would suggest utilizing a large number of colors from sources such as tree barks in food.  Most of these colors are proanthocyanidins so are very effective antioxidants.  So are the flavonoids abundant in leaves.  A culinary preparation colored by natural colors will effectively protect the body of the consumer from oxidative damage.  Since the free radicals are now believed to be responsible for diabetes, cardiac failure, brain damage, many types of cancer etc. the antioxidants added to food will definitely be protective in nature and will add years to the life of a consumer.  These antioxidants will...

Amphivasal vascular bundles and other unique  anatomical features of Desmodium (now  Pleurolobus gangeticus) leaf. During a pharmacognostic study of Desmodium gangeticum (now Pleurolobus gangeticus),  it is found that the leaves possess some unusual features like amphivasal vascular bundles in mid-rib, a colorless region of large rectangular cells between palisade and spongy layers, two types of trichomes and one type of gland. 1. Amphivasal vascular bundles Amphivasal or 'leptocentric vascular bundles  are characterised by  xylem surrounding the phloem tissue on all sides.  In Desmodium, the leaf mid-rib is found to possess  five large vascular bundles forming a semi-circle on the lower side and, just below the ridge, three small bundles forming a triangle with two large towards the lower side and one small on the upper side (Fig A).  All these three vascular bundles,  seen on upper side, are amphivasal in nature where phloem enc...

Tetracarpellary ovary in Raphanus as against the two carpels in other Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) We were taught that the Cruciferae is bicarpellary with a replum separating the 2 placenta.  But the fruits of Rat –tailed raddish (Mougri- Raphanus sativus var. caudatus) are found to contain , two (1D) or four placenta (1F &G) in two (1D) or three (1E 1H) chambered fruits. One with 4 placenta are found to produce 2 seeds arising from opposing placenta (1I).  This data indicates that the gynoecium is composed of 2 or 4 carpels.  In addition, there appeared purplish oval/orbicular bract like appendages (BLAs) merged within the fruit wall at the base, appearing as an oval bulging/projection of the fruit, which appeared sterile carpels. The number of the BLAs varied from 2 (Fig. 1A) to 3 (Fig.1B) or 4 (Fig. 1C) in different fruits and corresponded to the carpel number of gynoecium.  In fruits having two BLAs, seen on the opposite sides, inner cavity is 2-cham...

Useful plants of Heteromerae (B.&H.) 1. Family Ericaceae 1. Wintergreen(Gaultheria procumbens Linn.-Ericaceae) This plant is an evergreen shrub, a native of North America.  The leaves contain gaultherin, a phenolic glycoside that, in the presence of water, is acted upon by an enzyme gaultherase to produce a volatile oil consisting of methyl salicylate (98%), and a sugar, primeverose.  The other constituent of the oil is an ester of enanthic alcohol. Wintergreen oil is used in medicine and flavoring. 2. Bilberry, Huckleberry, (Vaccinium myrtillus Linn. .-Ericaceae) Bilberry is a small branched shrub with black globular (having a flat top) berries containing many small red seeds of a sharp sweet taste.  It is a native of Northern Europe and North America. Bilberry contains at least 15 anthocyanins based on malvidin, cyanidin and delphinidin, flavonoids such as quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and astragalin, catechol tannins, glycoquinic acid, ursolic acid, phenoli...

Weekly Knowledge 60 Bad Antogast 31 Jul 1996  Germany Today is a gift from God -- that is why it is called "present!" DON'T BE GRATEFUL!  Warning! Watch out! This Knowledge Sheet contains explosives! It can explode your head or your heart. If it explodes your heart -- nothing is left! If it explodes your head -- everything is attained!  Guruji: How many of you are grateful here? (Everybody raises their hand.) If you are grateful, you don't belong to Me! (Everyone is shocked.) You are not part of the Master. When someone gives you something, you are grateful. That means you feel separate. You are not grateful to yourself.  Gratefulness is inevitable. When you go beyond gratefulness, then union happens. No "I," no "you" remains. You are part of the Master. You are just One Being with a thousand heads and a thousand arms, but with one heart. You have got to be grateful on the path, but you have to transcend gratefulness. Better stop being grateful....

Rosaceae – A Boon to diabetics All the fruits the of this family (17-20) are sweet due to sorbitol  Which will not interfere with diabetes (glucose metabolism) A large family distinguished by sorbitol, stipules (mostly adnate), pentamerous flowers,  hypanthium(adnate to ovaryin inferior ovary) large number of stamens, and apocarpous pistils. and absence of endosperm. Contains 3000 species included in 100 genera.  Four subfamilies 1. Maloideae :  Plants having 2-5 carpels fused to form a syncarpous ovary which is again fused with the hypanthium to make the ovary inferior (2-5 locular with axile placentation). 2. Prunoideae :  Pistil is of a single carpel having a single ovule and fruit developing to a drupe. 3. Rosoideae :  Pistil of many carpels, each with a single ovule. 4. Spiraeoideae with all the remaining plants.. 1. Medicinal importance of Rosaceae 1. At least 17 fruita are provided by this family and all of them are safe foods for diabetics as they c...

Amruta (Tinospora) -  some controversies and facts. 1.Botanical identity of Amruta. There are 3 species of Tinospora used as Amruta in various parts of India.  In Kerala two varieties of Amruta are recognised: 1. Amritha also called “Chttamrut” which is T.cordifolia and used widely, 2.”Kanda-Amruta” also called “Kanda-guduchi” or “padmaguduchi”  which is T.sinensis (T.malabarica) having thicker stems, larger densely pubescent leaves ( Sivarajan and Balachandran,1994) 3) T.crispa which is used as a specific remedy for fevers in North Western India (Sharma,1983) T.cordifolia is glabrous (no hairs), leaves 2-3 inches in diam, whereas T.sinensis (T.malabarica ) is wooly, bark defoliating and leaves 4-6 inches broad. T.crispa is having prominent tubercles(lenticels), glabrous ) having large leaves,3-5 inchess broad. 2. As the Amruta plant is dioecious, having male and female plants separate, which one will be more potent; male or female? A ...

Various plants used as  “Pitpapra/Parpataka” in India,  their uses and chemical constituents Parpataka is considerd an esteemed remedy for all types of fevers.  Fumaria parviflora is considered as the original Pitpapra.  But at least 5 different plants with various active principles are used as Parpataka in different regions of India.  It is interesting to note that none the other substitutes possess the alkaloids, the active principles of Fumaria parviflora.  Fumaria parviflora  (Fumariaceae) is considered the original Pitpapra by most and physicians of Punjab, Sindh, U.P and Bihar.  This plant is used in fever, influenza and regarded as a laxative, diuretic, diaphoretic and is beneficial in dyspepsia, liver complaints and scrofulus skin affections and jaundice.  It contains isoquinoline alkaloids like protopine, tetrahydro coptisine, gum, and flavonols quercetin and 3'-OMe quercetin. Other plants used as Pitapapra are as follows 2. Ol...

Combretaceae- The Triphala family This family is very specialized in having an inferior unilocular ovary with pendulous ovules. Chemically it is known for the combretastatins (which are showing great anticancerous potential) and tannins.  Other characters are internal and interxylary phloem, leaf base often with two gland containing flask shaped cavities at base. Hypanthium is long syncarpous unilocular with 2-6 ovules pendulous on long funiculi from locule apex.  Fruit leathery and drupaceous, 1-seeded A family of 500 species included in 20 genera. Useful plants A. General uses 1. Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) The nuts of this plants are edible.  The kernel (100 g) contained 5.5 g of moisture, a high level of lipids (64.7–140.4 of Recommended Daily Intake (RDI)), proteins (36.0% RDI), sugars (6.0% RDI), and tannins (0.6%).  The defatted kernels (100 g) contained high levels of manganese (184.8–236.1% RDI), magnesium (173.6–235.2% RDI), iron (89.7–201.9% RDI), z...

Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng Gac,  the richest source of anti-cancer lycopene Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.,  commonly known as  Gac, is a climber endemic to Southeast Asia (Southern China to Northeastern Australia, mostly Vietnam),  the fruit of which is the richest source of lycopene i.e. 2,000 μg/g fresh weight.  The fruit contains by far the highest content of beta-carotene (vitamin A) of any known fruit or vegetable. Typically, gấc fruits are round or oblong, about 13 centimetres (5 in) in length and 10 centimetres (4 in) in diameter, covered with small spines on the exocarp. Upon ripening, gấc gradually changes colors, from green to yellow, orange and finally red when it can be harvested.  At this time, the fruit is hard, but turns soft quickly, creating a challenge for storage and transportation. Gấc fruit has a mild taste and dense flesh.  The inside of a gấc fruit comprises two parts: fruit (yellow) and seed membrane (red c...

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)-  Medicinal Herbs Diagnostic Features of the family. The members are distinguished by the aromatic leaves, sheathing leaf base, umbellate inflorescences,bicarpellate inferior ovary and a cremocarp. Medicinal plants 1. Centella asiatica Urban. (Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn. Manduk parni/ Brahmi, Gotu kola) The triterpenoid glycosides like asiaticoside, indocentelloside, brahmoside, brahminoside, etc.  This is one plant recommended for improving memory, reducing anxiety neurosis and hypertension and for treatment of leprosy and skin diseases.  Externally the paste of the fresh herb is applied for rheumatism, elephantiasis and hydrocele.  It is valued as a tonic and used in asthma, catarrh, leucorrhoea, kidney problems and tuberculosis. 2. Coriandrum sativum Linn (Dhanya/Kottmir, Coriander). The leaves yield isocoumarins like coriandrones A & B, coriandrin and dihydrocoriandrin and are good sources of vit. C and carotenoids.  Fruits conta...

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.), a nutraceutical with great benefits. My article (memory) on flax seeds appeared yesterday made many to compare it with Chia seeds which is another imp. nutraceutical, introduced recently, with great health benefits.  Chia seeds also are a richer source of omaega fatty acids (in fact it is slightly richer).  The main difference is chia is rich in useful polyphenols like flavonoids whereas flax seed has lignans (C6-C3-C3-C6polyphenols). Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an annual plant of the Lamiaceae family.  It is native to Central America and cultivated in several countries nowadays.  The seeds are oval of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width.  Seed surface is smooth, shiny, ranging in colour from white through grey to brown, with irregularly arranged black spots. When submerged in water, chia seeds form a mucilaginous gel that remains firmly attached to their shells. Chia contains about 35% oil, characterised by high contents of po...