phytochemicals! photos on Flickr

www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-288271

Mangueiras by pcaldeira

A caminho de Gurué

Mangoes belong to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Cultivated in many tropical regions and distributed widely in the world, mango is one of the most extensively exploited fruits for food, juice, flavor, fragrance and color, making it a common ingredient in new functional foods often called superfruits. Its leaves are ritually used as floral decorations at weddings and religious ceremonies. The name mango is ultimately either from the Kodagu mange, the Malayalam manga, or the Tamil mangai, and was loaned into Portuguese in the early 16th century, and from Portuguese passed into English. Mango trees (Mangifera indica) reach 35-40 m in height, with a crown radius of 10 m. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, 15-35 cm long and 6-16 cm broad; when the leaves are young they are orange-pink, rapidly changing to a dark glossy red, then dark green as they mature. The flowers are produced in terminal panicles 10-40 cm long; each flower is small and white with five petals 5-10 mm long, with a mild sweet odor suggestive of lily of the valley. The fruit takes from three to six months to ripen. The ripe fruit is variable in size and color, and may be yellow, orange, red or green when ripe, depending on the cultivar. When ripe, the unpeeled fruit gives off a distinctive resinous sweet smell. In its center is a single flat oblong seed that can be fibrous or hairy on the surface, depending on the cultivar.

Mango is rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients that qualify it as a model "superfruit". The fruit is high in prebiotic dietary fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids

Mango contains essential vitamins and dietary minerals. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, vitamin K, other B vitamins and essential nutrients such as potassium, copper and 17 amino acids . Mango peel and pulp contain other phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants - carotenoids and polyphenols - and omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The edible mango peel has considerable value as a source of dietary fiber and antioxidant pigments. Contained within the peel and pulp are rich contents of polysaccharides as fiber sources, especially starch and pectins.

Antioxidants of the peel and pulp include carotenoids, such as the provitamin A compound, beta-carotene, lutein and alpha-carotene, polyphenols, such as quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, caffeic acid, catechins, tannins, and the unique mango xanthone, mangiferin. Contents of these phytochemicals and nutrients appear to vary across different mango species.

samphire 004 by KH Kwon

4

I want to be a good farmer and a student of Salicornia Herbacea L.

blog URL www.samphiresalt.com

info@samphiresalt.com

SoTru Organic Fair Trade Chlorella by SoTru

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SoTru® OrganicChlorella is a nutrient-rich superfood that provides essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), chlorophyll and a broad spectrum of phytochemicals. We know what you’re thinking and we agree. By the name alone you’d never guess it was so good for you. The many health benefits of Chlorella include: natural detoxification, supporting brain and heart health, enhancing immune function and improving digestive health. Chlorella really cares about you. On the inside, because isn’t that what’s most important?

Stemona curtisii Hook.f. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

RIUM, WP Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Stemona curtisii Hook.f. Stemonaceae. CN; [Malay - Akar ratus, Akar seratus, Kemili hutan, Ubi kemili (sharing name with Plectranthus rotundifolius, a Lamiaceae), Pecah kelambu, Galak tua], Stemona. The vernacular names are often interchangeable used with Stemona tuberosa presumably non-native here and also many equally conflicting names and synonyms in various reports. Native to India (Nicobar Islands), Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malesia floristic zone. In peninsular Malaysia, occurrence is widespread, often in thickets near the sea, sometimes on limestone formations. Many scientific studies done to determine its phytochemical properties, but among the natives the root has been claimed an effective aphrodisiac.

Synonym(s):

Stemona minor Hook.f.

Ref. and suggested reading:

FRIM Flora Database

zipcodezoo.com/Plants/S/Stemona_curtisii/

proseanet.org/prosea/e-prosea_detail.php?frt=&id=1310

wannura.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/galak-tua-stemona-curtis...

www.iaat.org.in/Rheedea20_77-79.pdf

Vietnam - Sapa - Market - Brussels Sprout by Manfred Sommer

The Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera Group of cabbages (Brassica oleracea), grown for its edible buds.

The leaf vegetables are typically 1.5–4.0 cm in diameter and look like miniature cabbages. The Brussels sprout has long been popular in Brussels, Belgium, and may have gained its name there.

ETYMOLOGY

Although native to the Mediterranean region with other cabbage species, Brussels sprouts first appeared in northern Europe during the fifth century, later being cultivated in the 13th century near Brussels, from which they derived their name.

CULTIVATION

Forerunners to modern Brussels sprouts were probably cultivated in Ancient Rome. Brussels sprouts as they are now known were grown possibly as early as the 13th century in what is now Belgium. The first written reference dates to 1587. During the 16th century, they enjoyed a popularity in the southern Netherlands that eventually spread throughout the cooler parts of Northern Europe.

Brussels sprouts grow in temperature ranges of 7–24 °C, with highest yields at 15–18 °C.fields are ready for harvest 90 to 180 days after planting. The edible sprouts grow like buds in helical patterns along the side of long, thick stalks of about 60 to 120 cm in height, maturing over several weeks from the lower to the upper part of the stalk. Sprouts may be picked by hand into baskets, in which case several harvests are made of five to 15 sprouts at a time, or by cutting the entire stalk at once for processing, or by mechanical harvester, depending on variety. Each stalk can produce 1.1 to 1.4 kg, although the commercial yield is about 900 g per stalk. Harvest season in temperate zones of the northern latitudes is September to March, making Brussels sprouts a traditional winter-stock vegetable. In the home garden, harvest can be delayed as quality does not suffer from freezing. Sprouts are considered to be sweetest after a frost.

Brussels sprouts are a cultivar group of the same species as broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, kale, and kohlrabi; they are cruciferous (they belong to the family Brassicaceae; old name Cruciferae). Many cultivars are available; some are purple in color, such as 'Ruby Crunch' or 'Red Bull'. The purple varieties are hybrids between purple cabbage and regular green Brussels sprouts developed by a Dutch botanist in the 1940s, yielding a variety with some of the red cabbage's purple colors and greater sweetness.

EUROPE

In Continental Europe, the largest producers are the Netherlands, at 82,000 metric tons, and Germany, at 10,000 tons. The United Kingdom has production comparable to that of the Netherlands, but its crop is generally not exported.

NORTH AMERICA

Production of Brussels sprouts in the United States began in the 18th century, when French settlers brought them to Louisiana. The first plantings in California's Central Coast began in the 1920s, with significant production beginning in the 1940s. Currently, several thousand acres are planted in coastal areas of San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties of California, which offer an ideal combination of coastal fog and cool temperatures year-round. The harvest season lasts from June through January.

Most U.S. production is in California, with a smaller percentage of the crop grown in Skagit Valley, Washington, where cool springs, mild summers, and rich soil abounds, and to a lesser degree on Long Island, New York. Total U.S. production is around 32,000 tons, with a value of $27 million.

About 80 to 85% of U.S. production is for the frozen food market, with the remainder for fresh consumption. Once harvested, sprouts last 3–5 weeks under ideal near-freezing conditions before wilting and discoloring, and about half as long at refrigerator temperature. U.S. varieties are generally 2.5–5 cm in diameter.

NUTRIENTS, PHYTOCHEMICALS AND RESEARCH

Raw Brussels sprouts are 86% water, 9% carbohydrates, 3% protein, and contain negligible fat. In a 100 gram reference amount, they supply high levels (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin C (102% DV) and vitamin K (169% DV), with more moderate amounts of B vitamins, such as folate and vitamin B6 (USDA nutrient table, right); essential minerals and dietary fiber exist in moderate to low amounts (table).

Brussels sprouts, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contain sulforaphane, a phytochemical under basic research for its potential biological properties. Although boiling reduces the level of sulforaphane, neither steaming, microwave cooking, nor stir frying cause a significant loss.

Consuming Brussels sprouts in excess may not be suitable for people taking anticoagulants, such as warfarin, since they contain vitamin K, a blood-clotting factor. In one incident, eating too many Brussels sprouts led to hospitalization for an individual on blood-thinning therapy.

COOKING AND PREPARATION

The most common method of preparing Brussels sprouts for cooking begins with cutting the buds off the stalk. Any surplus stem is cut away, and any loose surface leaves are peeled and discarded. Once cut and cleaned, the buds are typically cooked by boiling, steaming, stir frying, grilling, slow cooking, or roasting. To ensure even cooking throughout, buds of a similar size are usually chosen. Some cooks make a single cut or a cross in the center of the stem to aid the penetration of heat.

Overcooking renders the buds gray and soft, and they then develop a strong flavor and odor that some dislike for its garlic- or onion-odor properties. The odor is associated with the glucosinolate sinigrin, a sulfur compound having characteristic pungency. For taste, roasting Brussels sprouts is a common way to cook them to enhance flavor. Common toppings or additions for Brussels sprouts include Parmesan cheese and butter, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, chestnuts, or pepper. Another way of cooking Brussels sprouts is to sauté them. Brussels sprouts can be pickled as an alternative to cooking them.

WIKIPEDIA

www.blazerfarmz.com | Aronia berries by blazerfarmz

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Nature's Finest Premier Antioxidant!

Bituminaria-bituminosa_6 by Amadej Trnkoczy

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Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C. H. Stirt., syn.: Psoralea bituminosa L., Aspalthium bituminosum (L.) Fourr., Psoralea palaestina Gouan, Asphalthium bituminosum (L.) Medik.

Family: Fabaceae

EN: Arabian Pea, Pitch Trefoil, DE: Gewöhnlicher Asphaltklee

Slo.: arabski grah

Dat.: May 21. 2007

Lat.: 45,00508 Long.: 13,81403 WGS84

Code: Bot_0189/2007_DSC8001 and DSC8037, Bot_0190/2007_DSC8116, Bot_0191/2007_DSC8228

Habitat: Dry grassland with some bushes, flat terrain, open, sunny location; elevation 125 m (410 feet); average precipitations ~ 1.000 mm/year, average temperature 13-15 deg C, Sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical region.

Substratum: soil.

Place: Croatia, Istria peninsula, approximately 4.3 km south-southeast of Bale, east of the Bale-Pula road at the intersection of the local road leading to the village of Gajana.

Comment regarding the Flick album Bituminaria bituminosa: Bituminaria bituminosa is an intriguing and relatively uncommon Mediterranean plant. It is prevalent along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea in all countries except Syria and Egypt. To the east, it extends as far as the Caucasus and the shores of the Black Sea (Ref.: 4).

Carl Linnaeus first formally described the plant as Psoralea bituminosa. A few years later, it was moved to the genus Bituminaria, which has experienced additional changes. Today, it resides again in the genus Bituminaria, which is relatively small—it includes only 10 species.

The species is easy to identify. If you slightly crush its leaves, they emit a distinct and unpleasant smell of tar. The plant has a fascinating phytochemical composition and exhibits potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Ref.:

(1) T. Nikolić, Flora Croatica, Vaskularna flora Republike Hrvatske, Vol. 2., Alfa d.d.. Zagreb (2020), p 762.

(2) W.K. Rottensteiner, Exkursionsflora für Istrien, Verlag des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins Kärten (2014), p 447.

(3) M. Blamey, C. Grey-Wilson, Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean, A & C Black, London (2005), p 508.

(4) Euro+Med (2006+), Euro+Med PlantBase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. www.europlusmed.org [accessed March 3. 2025]

Noni at a rancho in Mexico by antefixus21

Morinda citrifolia

"Noni" redirects here. For other uses, see Noni (disambiguation).

Morinda citrifolia is a fruit-bearing tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Its native range extends across Southeast Asia and Australasia, and the species is now cultivated throughout the tropics and widely naturalized.[1] Among some 100 names for the fruit across different regions are the more common English names of great morinda, Indian mulberry, noni, beach mulberry, and cheese fruit.[2]

Morinda citrifolia

Noni fruit

Leaves and noni fruit

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Asterids

Order: Gentianales

Family: Rubiaceae

Genus: Morinda

Species: M. citrifolia

Binomial name

Morinda citrifolia

L.

The strong-smelling fruit has been eaten as a famine food or staple food among some cultures, and has been used in traditional medicine. In the consumer market, it has been introduced as a supplement in various formats, such as capsules, skin products, and juices.

Growing habitats:

Morinda citrifolia grows in shady forests, as well as on open rocky or sandy shores.[3] It reaches maturity in about 18 months, then yields between 4 and 8 kg (8.8 and 17.6 lb) of fruit every month throughout the year. It is tolerant of saline soils, drought conditions, and secondary soils. It is therefore found in a wide variety of habitats: volcanic terrains, lava-strewn coasts, and clearings or limestone outcrops, as well as in coralline atolls.[3] It can grow up to 9 m (30 ft) tall, and has large, simple, dark green, shiny and deeply veined leaves.

The plant bears flowers and fruits all year round. The fruit is a multiple fruit that has a pungent odour when ripening, and is hence also known as cheese fruit or even vomit fruit. It is oval in shape and reaches 10–18 centimetres (3.9–7.1 in) size. At first green, the fruit turns yellow then almost white as it ripens. It contains many seeds.[3]

Morinda citrifolia is especially attractive to weaver ants, which make nests from the leaves of the tree.[3] These ants protect the plant from some plant-parasitic insects. The smell of the fruit also attracts fruit bats, which aid in dispersing the seeds. A type of fruit fly, Drosophila sechellia, feeds exclusively on these fruits.[4]

Food:

A variety of beverages (juice drinks), powders (from dried ripe or unripe fruits), cosmetic products (lotions, soaps), oil (from seeds), leaf powders (for encapsulation or pills) have been introduced into the consumer market.[5]

Noni is sometimes called a "starvation fruit", implying it was used by indigenous peoples as emergency food during times of famine.[5] Despite its strong smell and bitter taste, the fruit was nevertheless eaten as a famine food,[6] and, in some Pacific Islands, even as a staple food, either raw or cooked.[7] Southeast Asians and Australian Aborigines consume the fruit raw with salt or cook it with curry.[8] The seeds are edible when roasted. In Thai cuisine, the leaves (known as bai-yo) are used as a green vegetable and are the main ingredient of kaeng bai-yo, cooked with coconut milk. The fruit (luk-yo) is added as a salad ingredient to some versions of somtam.

Traditional medicine:

Green fruit, leaves, and root or rhizomes might have been used in Polynesian cultures as a general tonic, in addition to its traditional place in Polynesian culture as a famine food.[5]Although Morinda is considered to have biological properties in traditional medicine, there is no confirmed evidence of clinical efficacy for any intended use.[9] In 2018, a Hawaiianmanufacturer of noni food and skincare products was issued an FDA warning letter for marketing unapproved drugs and making false health claims in violation of the US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.[10]

Dyes:

Among Austronesian peoples, noni was traditionally used primarily for the production of dyes. It was carried into the Pacific Islands as canoe plants by Austronesian voyagers. Morinda bark produces a brownish-purplish dye that may be used for making batik. In Hawaii, yellowish dye is extracted from its roots to dye cloth.[11][12]

Nutrients and phytochemicals:

Morinda citrifolia fruit powder contains carbohydrates and dietary fibre in moderate amounts.[13] These macronutrients evidently reside in the fruit pulp, as M. citrifolia juicehas sparse nutrient content.[14] The main micronutrients of M. citrifolia pulp powder include vitamin C, niacin (vitamin B3), iron and potassium.[13] Vitamin A, calcium and sodium are present in moderate amounts. When M. citrifolia juice alone is analyzed and compared to pulp powder, only vitamin C is retained[14] in an amount (34 mg per 100 gram juice) that is 64% of the content of a raw navel orange (53 mg per 100 g or 89% of the Daily Value).[15]Sodium levels in M. citrifolia juice (about 3% of Dietary Reference Intake, DRI)[13] are high compared to an orange, and potassium content is moderate.[15]

Morinda citrifolia fruit contains a number of phytochemicals, including lignans, oligo- and polysaccharides, flavonoids, iridoids, fatty acids, scopoletin, catechin, beta-sitosterol, damnacanthal, and alkaloids.[16] Although these substances have been studied for bioactivity, current research is insufficient to conclude anything about their effects on human health.[1] These phytochemicals are not unique to M. citrifolia, as they exist in various plants.[11]

References:

^ a b Nelson, SC (2006-04-01). "Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry: Morinda citrifolia (noni)". Traditional Tree Initiative.

^ "Some worldwide names for Morinda citrifolia L." The noni website, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

^ a b c d Nelson, Scot C (March 2001). "Noni cultivation in Hawaii" (PDF). The noni website, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

^ Jones, C.D. (1998). "The Genetic Basis of Drosophila sechellia‍'s Resistance to a Host Plant Toxin". Genetics. 149 (4): 1899–1908.

^ a b c Nelson, Scot C (8 October 2003). "Morinda citrifolia L." (PDF). Permanent Agriculture Resources, University of Hawaii. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

^ Krauss, BH (December 1993). Plants in Hawaiian Culture. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-8248-1225-6.

^ Morton, Julia F. (1992). "The ocean-going noni, or Indian Mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae) and some of its "colorful" relatives". Economic Botany. 46 (3): 241–56. doi:10.1007/BF02866623.

^ Cribb, A.B. & Cribb, J.W. (1975) Wild Food in Australia. Sydney: Collins.[page needed]

^ Potterat O, Hamburger M (2007). "Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit--phytochemistry, pharmacology, safety". Planta Medica. 73 (3): 191–9. doi:10.1055/s-2007-967115. PMID 17286240.

^ Darla Bracy, Division Director (18 July 2018). "Warning letter: Hawaiian Organic Noni, LLC". Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 15 August 2018.

^ a b Thompson, RH (1971). Naturally Occurring Anthraquinones. New York: Academic Press.[page needed]

^ Nelson, Scot C. (2006). "Pandanus tectorius (pandanus)". In Elevitch, Craig R. (ed.). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry (PDF). Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR).

^ a b c Nelson, Scot C. (2006) "Nutritional Analysis of Hawaiian Noni (Noni Fruit Powder)" The Noni Website. Retrieved 15-06-2009.

^ a b Nelson, Scot C. (2006) "Nutritional Analysis of Hawaiian Noni (Pure Noni Fruit Juice)" The Noni Website. Retrieved 15-06-2009.

^ a b "Nutrition data for raw oranges, all commercial varieties, per 100 gram amount". Nutritiondata.com. Conde Nast for the USDA National Nutrient Database, Release SR-21. 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

^ Levand, Oscar; Larson, Harold (2009). "Some Chemical Constituents of Morinda citrifolia". Planta Medica. 36 (06): 186–7. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1097264.

WineOh! Vinotherapy Face Serum by Candace N'Diaye

Wine-Oh! Face Serum is the perfect refreshing complexion pick me up! This serum is full of anti-oxidants and skin rejuvenating ingredients, including vitamin C & reservatrol (the powerful disease-fighting phytochemical found in red wine). A mix of grapeseed, jojoba, & sweet almond oil combine with lavender, rosewood, and orange essential oils, and meet up with black willowbark extract & cranberry seed oil (both are anti-inflammatory agents) to help diminish fine lines & promote cell renewal. As with all of my products, Wine-Oh! Face Serum is naturally preserved, using citric acid & grapefruit seed extract (GSE).

Product layers beautifully under moisturizer, make-up or used alone.

Watercress by Sharon Lee

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Watercress is a nutrient-dense superfood with high amounts of antioxidants and cancer fighting phytochemicals.

To learn more about this cruciferous vegetable, and to see cooking recipes using watercress, visit the www.chinesesouppot.com > Common Ingredients section.

20180717_BreastCancerResearch_JH_012 by California State University, Chico

Katherine Jensen is researching how the phytochemicals in broccoli and other foods can fight against breast cancer in a lab in Holt on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/University Photographer/CSU Chico)

NIKA by Irangi Udayangani

Five-leaved Chaste Tree or Vitex Negundo is a medicinal shrub commonly found in tropical, subtropical and also warm temperate regions throughout the world, especially in the Philippines. The use of five-leaved chaste tree for medicinal purposes has been known for a long time in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines and other Asian countries. Today, pharmaceutical companies in Japan are importing wild vitex negundo from Philippines. The root is reported to be tonic, febrifuge, and expectorant. The root is also used in a great variety of diseases: dyspepsia, colic, rheumatism, worms, boils, and leprosy. The flowers are used in diarrhea, cholera, fever, and diseases of the liver, and are also recommended as a cardiac tonic. The seeds make a cooling medicine for skin diseases and leprosy, and for inflammation of the mouth. The leaves are used as a tea for conditions like coughs and asthma.The Philippine Department of Health has certified Lagundi (five-leaved chaste tree) as a medicinal plant for treatment of cases like colds, flu, pharyngitis, and asthma.

These products are approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

The Department of Science and Technology has performed numerous studies on Lagundi (five-leaved chaste tree). Phytochemical studies have revealed that chaste tree contains chrysoplenol D, a smooth muscle relaxant with anti-histamine properties. It also contains isoorientin, casticin, luteolin-7-0-glucoside, among other things, which exhibit an anti-histamine effect. Chaste tree also shows leukotriene release inhibition, an important mechanism in controlling asthma.

Also, recent study indicates that the chaste tree extract is one of promising cancer prevention substance. We are applying Lagundi tea to cancer patients and the result is remarkable. Reduced cancer cells are reported on some patients.In USA, from California, especially in Texas, to the most part of Florida, you can find chaste trees around. It is a beautiful tree and one of tourist attraction during autumn season in Japan. Most vitex negundo trees are located within National Parks of Japan. Japanese pharmaceutical companies import tons of it from Philippines, because of its wild and non-cultivated quality.

Blazerfarmz | Aronia berries by blazerfarmz

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Nature's Finest Premier Antioxidant!

Papaya ( 木瓜 ) by Click Cluck

Scientific Name: Carica papaya.

Given two plants by NParks as part of the Community in Bloom initiative. Replanted one into the ground and this one still remains in its pot. Have to find a place to replant it soon or the hair roots will turn into a ball, and that will surely stunt its growth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wiki:

The papaya (from Carib via Spanish), papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae.

Papaya fruit is a rich source of nutrients such as provitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C, B vitamins, lycopene, dietary minerals and dietary fibre. Papaya skin, pulp and seeds also contain a variety of phytochemicals, including natural phenols. Danielone is a phytoalexin found in the papaya fruit. This compound showed high antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloesporioides, a pathogenic fungus of papaya.

The black seeds of the papaya are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. They are sometimes ground and used as a substitute for black pepper.

In some parts of Asia, the young leaves of the papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.

Other preliminary research indicates alternate possible effects which remain to be further studied. Papaya juice has an in vitro antiproliferative effect on liver cancer cells, possibly due to lycopene.

Herb for frequent urination by SagaMedica

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Muscle relaxing compounds in angelica leaf are thought to help people suffering from frequent urination.

Phyllanthus reticulatus by CANTIQ UNIQUE

YASHICA Digital Camera

Karang Asem, Catur Tunggal, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta, INDONESIA

Vernacular name (s)= Mangsi-mangsian/tinta-tintaan

Usefulnes=Traditional medicine

Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves showed potential RNase H inhibition and protection against the viral cytopathic effects of HIV-1.

The herb Phyllanthus emblica has gained interest as a potential treatment for human bone disorders as well as diabetes patients.

Gaining attention for its potential effects against hepatitis B, research on Phyllanthus niruri has revealed possible antiviral activity also against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Phyllanthus plants have been used in folk medicine used to treat a wide number of diseases. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, various herbaceous Phyllanthus species are known as bhuiamla, a name previously assigned to P. niruri only. Bhuiamla is prescribed for jaundice, gonorrhea and diabetes (internal use) as well as poultices, skin ulcer and other skin problems (external use). Infusions are made from young shoots as a treatment of chronic dysentery. Not many of these supposed benefits, however, is established with modern scientific research.

The bark of Phyllanthus muellerianus, commonly called "mbolongo" in Cameroon, is used by pygmies as a remedy for tetanus and wound infections.

Phyllanthus muellerianus extracts are antimicrobial. Phyllanthus niruri may possibly help prevent stone formation/urolithiasis. Phyllanthus amarus root and leaf extract showed significant hepatitis C antiviral activity. Phyllanthus species for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection have been assessed in clinical trials, but no consensus regarding their usefulness exists. Phyllanthus acidus (leaf) showed antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves showed potential RNase H inhibition and protection against the viral cytopathic effects of HIV-1.

Leaves, roots, stem, bark and berries of this genus contain lignans (e.g. phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin) and a variety of other phytochemicals.

(Estoy Unico-extract: Wikipedia)

Fruits and veggie dish by Health Daddi

Most of us know we should be eating more produce each day (at least five servings, we're contractually obligated to tell you). But it also seems that our produce palate is about as exciting as a pair of basic khakis. According to a recent study based on government nutritional data, we're coming up short in terms of eating a variety of fruit and vegetable colors: Sixty-nine percent of Americans don't get enough green; 78 percent don't get enough red; 86 percent don't get enough white; 88 percent don't get enough purple/blue; and 79 percent don't get enough yellow/orange. We tend to eat the same produce over and over again. This skew toward bland means we're missing out on a lot more than just good-tasting food. "There are unique phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, that vary from color to color. These various compounds all do different things to protect your health. If you're eating only red bell peppers, you're going to be limited as far as health benefits because you're not getting all those other colors," says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Optimal Life Foods. When it comes to selecting produce, there's no one tint that rises above the rest. "We need the full spectrum. That's why we're omnivores," Grotto says. Here's what each hue brings you.

Fitness, nutrition, wellbeing and living the good life.

www.healthdaddi.com

www.facebook.com/healthdaddi

Elettariopsis slahmong C.K.Lim by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

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Jerantut, Pahang, Malaysia.

(Image credit Hj. Roselan Malek, Malaysia).

Elettariopsis slahmong C.K.Lim. Zingiberaceae. CN: [Malay - Halia kesing, Pepijat], Slahmong (Thai). "Slahmong" is a Thai word for stinkbug. Found throughout Peninsular Malaysia (endemic), possibly in peninsular Thailand. The plant, 0.5–1.5 m tall, produces creeping rhizomes, 2–6 leaves with extended tips and clustered flowers. (clustered-head inflorescence). The whole plant has a strong repulsive stinkbug odor, but tasted sweet when chewed. Considered delicacy, the aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia use the leaves of this plant to flavor their native cuisines of wild meat and fish. Old Malay kampong folks in Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu use the leaves for flavoring curry and other spicy dishes. In Southern Thailand, the leaves are eaten raw as salad despite their repulsive stinkbug odor and considered a delicacy.

Ref. and suggested reading:

www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-243122

aplx5.rdg.ac.uk/annual-checklist/2009/show_species_detail...

Chan H. W. Bio-activities and chemical constituents of leaves of some Etlingera species (Zingiberaceae) in Pennsular Malaysia. Phd dissertation, Monash University.

eprints.usm.my/10343/1/PHYTOCHEMICAL_INVESTIGATION_ON_SOM...

e-monocot.org/taxon/urn:kew.org:wcs:taxon:243122

www.aseanbiodiversity.info/Abstract/51011412.pdf

Chan E.W.C., et. al. Antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition properties of leaves and rhizomes of ginger species. Food Chemistry, Elsevier.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. Mrytaceae. CN: [Malay - Serai kayu, Daun kelat, Kelat samak, Kelat putih, Kelat merah, Samak, Serah, Daun salam, Daun salam manting, Mantang, Ubah laut, Pokok palong, Jambu hutan], Indian bayleaf (generally referred with the same common name but the species in India is, Cinnamomum tejpata), Indonesian bayleaf, Salam blad. Native of Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand), Malesia (Brunei, Indonesia - Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra; Malaysia). Plant can reach up to 30 m. Elsewhere the plant is cultivated. The flowers are pink and somewhat fragrant while the fruits are round; red at first, later brown. The seeds are small and brown. The dried brown leaves are aromatic and somewhat sour; used as a spice in most areas where the plant are native. The main phytochemicals in this plant are - eugenol, citral and methylchavicol. In folk medicine the bark and other plant parts in combination is used to prepare decoction and poultices to relieve diarrhea and pruritis respectively. S. polyanthum is making its appearance in urban landscaping.

Synonym(s):

Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. [Illegitimate]

Eugenia holmanii Elmer

Eugenia junghuhniana Miq.

Eugenia lambii Elmer

Eugenia lucidula Miq.

Eugenia microbotrya Miq.

Eugenia nitida Duthie [Illegitimate]

Eugenia pamatensis Miq.

Eugenia polyantha Wight

Eugenia polyantha var. sessilis M.R.Hend.

Eugenia resinosa Gagnep.

Myrtus cymosa Blume [Illegitimate]

Syzygium cymosum Korth. [Illegitimate]

Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq.

Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum var. sessile (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner

Ref and suggested reading:

www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-243122

Elettariopsis slahmong C.K.Lim by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Jerantut, Pahang, Malaysia.

(Image credit Hj. Roselan Malek, Malaysia).

Elettariopsis slahmong C.K.Lim. Zingiberaceae. CN: [Malay - Halia kesing, Pepijat], Slahmong (Thai). "Slahmong" is a Thai word for stinkbug. Found throughout Peninsular Malaysia (endemic), possibly in peninsular Thailand. The plant, 0.5–1.5 m tall, produces creeping rhizomes, 2–6 leaves with extended tips and clustered flowers. (clustered-head inflorescence). The whole plant has a strong repulsive stinkbug odor, but tasted sweet when chewed. Considered delicacy, the aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia use the leaves of this plant to flavor their native cuisines of wild meat and fish. Old Malay kampong folks in Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu use the leaves for flavoring curry and other spicy dishes. In Southern Thailand, the leaves are eaten raw as salad despite their repulsive stinkbug odor and considered a delicacy.

Ref. and suggested reading:

aplx5.rdg.ac.uk/annual-checklist/2009/show_species_detail...

Chan H. W. Bio-activities and chemical constituents of leaves of some Etlingera species (Zingiberaceae) in Pennsular Malaysia. Phd dissertation, Monash University.

eprints.usm.my/10343/1/PHYTOCHEMICAL_INVESTIGATION_ON_SOM...

e-monocot.org/taxon/urn:kew.org:wcs:taxon:243122

www.aseanbiodiversity.info/Abstract/51011412.pdf

Chan E.W.C., et. al. Antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition properties of leaves and rhizomes of ginger species. Food Chemistry, Elsevier.

Organic Fair Trade Spirulina by SoTru

SoTru® OrganicSpirulina is a nutrient-rich superfood that provides key nutritional elements including an array of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, chlorophyll, and a broad spectrum of phytochemicals such as carotenoids and phycocyanins. Okay, that was a mouthful. We’ll give you a minute if you want to re-read that part. It also contains high amounts of vegetable protein and is a great source of beta-carotene. Let’s not forget Spirulina is known to strengthen the immune system. It’ll boost your immunity by giving it a kick in the… well you know what we mean.

The Good White Vegetables by Lynnette Henderson

2 11

As a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, the turnip is considered a top veggie when it comes to disease-preventing phytochemicals. Studies have shown that these compounds help the body both ward off and detoxify cancer-causing substances. Turnips are also low in calories, a good source of calcium and iron, and high in vitamin C. In fact, turnip juice has twice the amount of vitamin C as orange juice. Raw grated turnip serves as a digestive aid, much the same as radish and daikon. Turnips also contain B vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and other trace nutrients. They have more naturally occurring sodium than do most vegetables.

Not shown, but most certainly used, are the greens: Turnip greens are more nutrition dense than the root. Half a cup of turnip greens have 441 mg of vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene), 851 g of vitamin K and just 24 calories -- and with vitamin C, folate and calcium as well, they're far more nutritious than the turnip itself.

And the Daikon Radish is no wimp:

Health Benefits: A sweet and pungent tonic, daikon tonifies the lung and liver meridians. Fresh daikon contains diuretics, decongestants, and the digestive enzymes diastase, amylase, and esterase. It is effective against many bacterial and fungal infections and it contains a substance that inhibits the formation of carcinogens in the body. As for the radish greens, well, they make a great soup!

India - Telangana - Hyderabad - Market - Pomegranate Seller - 5 by Manfred Sommer

The pomegranate (/ˈpɒmᵻɡrænᵻt/), botanical name Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between 5 and 8 m tall.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere from March to May. As intact arils or juice, pomegranates are used in cooking, baking, meal garnishes, juice blends, smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails and wine.

The pomegranate originated in the region of modern-day Iran and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region and northern India. It was introduced into America (Spanish America) in the late 16th century and California by Spanish settlers in 1769.

Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, north Africa and tropical Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, the drier parts of southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin. It is also cultivated in parts of California and Arizona. In recent years, it has become more common in the commercial markets of Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

ETYMOLOGY

The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum "seeded". Perhaps stemming from the old French word for the fruit, pomme-grenade, the pomegranate was known in early English as "apple of Grenada" - a term which today survives only in heraldic blazons. This is a folk etymology, confusing Latin granatus with the name of the Spanish city of Granada, which derives from Arabic.

Garnet derives from Old French grenat by metathesis, from Medieval Latin granatum as used in a different meaning "of a dark red color". This derivation may have originated from pomum granatum describing the color of pomegranate pulp or from granum referring to "red dye, cochineal".

The French term for pomegranate, grenade, has given its name to the military grenade.

DESCRIPTION

A shrub or small tree growing 6 to 10 m high, the pomegranate has multiple spiny branches, and is extremely long-lived, with some specimens in France surviving for 200 years. P. granatum leaves are opposite or subopposite, glossy, narrow oblong, entire, 3–7 cm long and 2 cm broad. The flowers are bright red and 3 cm in diameter, with three to seven petals. Some fruitless varieties are grown for the flowers alone.

The edible fruit is a berry, intermediate in size between a lemon and a grapefruit, 5–12 cm in diameter with a rounded shape and thick, reddish skin. The number of seeds in a pomegranate can vary from 200 to about 1400. Each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp — the edible sarcotesta that forms from the seed coat — ranging in color from white to deep red or purple. The seeds are "exarillate", i.e., unlike some other species in the order, Myrtales, no aril is present. The sarcotesta of pomegranate seeds consists of epidermis cells derived from the integument. The seeds are embedded in a white, spongy, astringent membrane.

CULTIVATION

P. granatum is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens. Mature specimens can develop sculptural twisted-bark multiple trunks and a distinctive overall form. Pomegranates are drought-tolerant, and can be grown in dry areas with either a Mediterranean winter rainfall climate or in summer rainfall climates. In wetter areas, they can be prone to root decay from fungal diseases. They can be tolerant of moderate frost, down to about −12 °C.

Insect pests of the pomegranate can include the pomegranate butterfly Virachola isocrates and the leaf-footed bug Leptoglossus zonatus, and fruit flies and ants are attracted to unharvested ripe fruit. Pomegranate grows easily from seed, but is commonly propagated from 25– to 50-cm hardwood cuttings to avoid the genetic variation of seedlings. Air layering is also an option for propagation, but grafting fails.

VARIETIES

P. granatum var. nana is a dwarf variety of P. granatum popularly planted as an ornamental plant in gardens and larger containers, and used as a bonsai specimen tree. It could well be a wild form with a distinct origin. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The only other species in the genus Punica is the Socotran pomegranate (P. protopunica), which is endemic to the island of Socotra. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit.

CULTIVARS

P. granatum has more than 500 named cultivars, but evidently has considerable synonymy in which the same genotype is named differently across regions of the world.[15]

Several characteristics between pomegranate genotypes vary for identification, consumer preference, preferred use, and marketing, the most important of which are fruit size, exocarp color (ranging from yellow to purple, with pink and red most common), seed-coat color (ranging from white to red), hardness of seed, maturity, juice content and its acidity, sweetness, and astringency.

CULTURAL HISTORY

Pomegranate is native to a region from Iran to northern India. Pomegranates have been cultivated throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and Mediterranean region for several millennia, and also thrive in the drier climates of California and Arizona.

Carbonized exocarp of the fruit has been identified in early Bronze Age levels of Jericho in the West Bank, as well as late Bronze Age levels of Hala Sultan Tekke on Cyprus and Tiryns.[citation needed] A large, dry pomegranate was found in the tomb of Djehuty, the butler of Queen Hatshepsut in Egypt; Mesopotamian cuneiform records mention pomegranates from the mid-third millennium BC onwards.

It is also extensively grown in South China and in Southeast Asia, whether originally spread along the route of the Silk Road or brought by sea traders. Kandahar is famous in Afghanistan for its high-quality pomegranates.

Although not native to Korea or Japan, the pomegranate is widely grown there and many cultivars have been developed. It is widely used for bonsai because of its flowers and for the unusual twisted bark the older specimens can attain. The term "balaustine" (Latin: balaustinus) is also used for a pomegranate-red color.

The ancient city of Granada in Spain was renamed after the fruit during the Moorish period and today the province of Granada uses pomegranate as a charge in heraldry for its canting arms.

Spanish colonists later introduced the fruit to the Caribbean and America (Spanish America), but in the English colonies, it was less at home: "Don't use the pomegranate inhospitably, a stranger that has come so far to pay his respects to thee," the English Quaker Peter Collinson wrote to the botanizing John Bartram in Philadelphia, 1762. "Plant it against the side of thy house, nail it close to the wall. In this manner it thrives wonderfully with us, and flowers beautifully, and bears fruit this hot year. I have twenty-four on one tree... Doctor Fothergill says, of all trees this is most salutiferous to mankind."

The pomegranate had been introduced as an exotic to England the previous century, by John Tradescant the elder, but the disappointment that it did not set fruit there led to its repeated introduction to the American colonies, even New England. It succeeded in the South: Bartram received a barrel of pomegranates and oranges from a correspondent in Charleston, South Carolina, 1764. John Bartram partook of "delitious" pomegranates with Noble Jones at Wormsloe Plantation, near Savannah, Georgia, in September 1765. Thomas Jefferson planted pomegranates at Monticello in 1771: he had them from George Wythe of Williamsburg.

CULINARY USE

After the pomegranate is opened by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seeds are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the seeds is easier in a bowl of water because the seeds sink and the inedible pulp floats. Freezing the entire fruit also makes it easier to separate. Another effective way of quickly harvesting the seeds is to cut the pomegranate in half, score each half of the exterior rind four to six times, hold the pomegranate half over a bowl, and smack the rind with a large spoon. The seeds should eject from the pomegranate directly into the bowl, leaving only a dozen or more deeply embedded seeds to remove. The entire seed is consumed raw, though the watery, tasty sarcotesta is the desired part. The taste differs depending on the variety or cultivar of pomegranate and its ripeness.

Pomegranate juice can be sweet or sour, but most fruits are moderate in taste, with sour notes from the acidic tannins contained in the juice. Pomegranate juice has long been a popular drink in Europe, the Middle East and is now widely distributed in the United States and Canada.

Grenadine syrup long ago consisted of thickened and sweetened pomegranate juice, now is usually a sales name for a syrup based on various berries, citric acid, and food coloring, mainly used in cocktail mixing. In Europe, Bols still manufactures grenadine syrup with pomegranate. Before tomatoes, a New World fruit, arrived in the Middle East, pomegranate juice, molasses, and vinegar were widely used in many Iranian foods, and are still found in traditional recipes such as fesenjān, a thick sauce made from pomegranate juice and ground walnuts, usually spooned over duck or other poultry and rice, and in ash-e anar (pomegranate soup).

Pomegranate seeds are used as a spice known as anardana (from Persian: anar + dana‎‎, pomegranate + seed), most notably in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Dried whole seeds can often be obtained in ethnic Indian subcontinent markets. These seeds are separated from the flesh, dried for 10–15 days, and used as an acidic agent for chutney and curry preparation. Ground anardana is also used, which results in a deeper flavoring in dishes and prevents the seeds from getting stuck in teeth. Seeds of the wild pomegranate variety known as daru from the Himalayas are regarded as quality sources for this spice.

Dried pomegranate seeds, found in some natural specialty food markets, still contain some residual water, maintaining a natural sweet and tart flavor. Dried seeds can be used in several culinary applications, such as trail mix, granola bars, or as a topping for salad, yogurt, or ice cream.

In the Caucasus, pomegranate is used mainly for juice. In Azerbaijan, a sauce from pomegranate juice narsharab, (from Persian: (a)nar + sharab‎‎, lit. "pomegranate wine") is usually served with fish or tika kabab. In Turkey, pomegranate sauce (Turkish: nar ekşisi) is used as a salad dressing, to marinate meat, or simply to drink straight. Pomegranate seeds are also used in salads and sometimes as garnish for desserts such as güllaç. Pomegranate syrup or molasses is used in muhammara, a roasted red pepper, walnut, and garlic spread popular in Syria and Turkey.

In Greece, pomegranate (Greek: ρόδι, rodi) is used in many recipes, including kollivozoumi, a creamy broth made from boiled wheat, pomegranates, and raisins, legume salad with wheat and pomegranate, traditional Middle Eastern lamb kebabs with pomegranate glaze, pomegranate eggplant relish, and avocado-pomegranate dip. Pomegranate is also made into a liqueur, and as a popular fruit confectionery used as ice cream topping, mixed with yogurt, or spread as jam on toast. In Cyprus and Greece, and among the Greek Orthodox Diaspora, ρόδι (Greek for pomegranate) is used to make koliva, a mixture of wheat, pomegranate seeds, sugar, almonds, and other seeds served at memorial services.

In Mexico, they are commonly used to adorn the traditional dish chiles en nogada, representing the red of the Mexican flag in the dish which evokes the green (poblano pepper), white (nogada sauce) and red (pomegranate seeds) tricolor.

IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

In the Indian subcontinent's ancient Ayurveda system of traditional medicine, the pomegranate is frequently described as an ingredient in remedies.

In folk medicine pomegranate has been thought a contraceptive and abortifacient when the seeds or rind are eaten, or when as a vaginal suppository.

NUTRITION

A 100-g serving of pomegranate seeds provides 12% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C, 16% DV for vitamin K and 10% DV for folate (table).

Pomegranate seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber (20% DV) which is entirely contained in the edible seeds. People who choose to discard the seeds forfeit nutritional benefits conveyed by the seed fiber and micronutrients.

Pomegranate seed oil contains punicic acid (65.3%), palmitic acid (4.8%), stearic acid (2.3%), oleic acid (6.3%), and linoleic acid (6.6%).

RESEARCH

JUICE

The most abundant phytochemicals in pomegranate juice are polyphenols, including the hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins formed when ellagic acid and/or gallic acid binds with a carbohydrate to form pomegranate ellagitannins, also known as punicalagins.

The red color of juice can be attributed to anthocyanins, such as delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin glycosides. Generally, an increase in juice pigmentation occurs during fruit ripening.

The phenolic content of pomegranate juice is adversely affected by processing and pasteurization techniques.

PEEL

Compared to the pulp, the inedible pomegranate peel contains as much as three times the total amount of polyphenols, including condensed tannins, catechins, gallocatechins and prodelphinidins.

The higher phenolic content of the peel yields extracts for use in dietary supplements and food preservatives.

Health claims

Despite limited research data, manufacturers and marketers of pomegranate juice have liberally used evolving research results for product promotion. In February 2010, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to one such manufacturer, POM Wonderful, for using published literature to make illegal claims of unproven anti-disease benefits.

SYMBOLISM

ANCIENT EGYPT

Ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition. According to the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical writings from around 1500 BC, Egyptians used the pomegranate for treatment of tapeworm and other infections.

ANCIENT GREECE

The Greeks were familiar with the fruit far before it was introduced to Rome via Carthage. In Ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate was known as the "fruit of the dead", and believed to have sprung from the blood of Adonis.

The myth of Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, prominently features the pomegranate. In one version of Greek mythology, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, Demeter (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter, thus all green things ceased to grow. Zeus, the highest-ranking of the Greek gods, could not allow the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the Fates that anyone who consumed food or drink in the underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner, so she was condemned to spend six months in the underworld every year. During these six months, while Persephone sits on the throne of the underworld beside her husband Hades, her mother Demeter mourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This was an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons. Dante Gabriel Rossetti's painting Persephona depicts Persephone holding the fatal fruit. The number of seeds Persephone ate varies, depending on which version of the story is told. The number ranges from three to seven, which accounts for just one barren season if it is just three or four seeds, or two barren seasons (half the year) if she ate six or seven seeds.

The pomegranate also evoked the presence of the Aegean Triple Goddess who evolved into the Olympian Hera, who is sometimes represented offering the pomegranate, as in the Polykleitos' cult image of the Argive Heraion (see below). According to Carl A. P. Ruck and Danny Staples, the chambered pomegranate is also a surrogate for the poppy's narcotic capsule, with its comparable shape and chambered interior. On a Mycenaean seal illustrated in Joseph Campbell's Occidental Mythology 1964, figure 19, the seated Goddess of the double-headed axe (the labrys) offers three poppy pods in her right hand and supports her breast with her left. She embodies both aspects of the dual goddess, life-giving and death-dealing at once. The Titan Orion was represented as "marrying" Side, a name that in Boeotia means "pomegranate", thus consecrating the primal hunter to the Goddess. Other Greek dialects call the pomegranate rhoa; its possible connection with the name of the earth goddess Rhea, inexplicable in Greek, proved suggestive for the mythographer Karl Kerenyi, who suggested the consonance might ultimately derive from a deeper, pre-Indo-European language layer.

In the 5th century BC, Polycleitus took ivory and gold to sculpt the seated Argive Hera in her temple. She held a scepter in one hand and offered a pomegranate, like a 'royal orb', in the other. "About the pomegranate I must say nothing," whispered the traveller Pausanias in the 2nd century, "for its story is somewhat of a holy mystery." In the Orion story, Hera cast pomegranate-Side (an ancient city in Antalya) into dim Erebus — "for daring to rival Hera's beauty", which forms the probable point of connection with the older Osiris/Isis story.[citation needed] Since the ancient Egyptians identified the Orion constellation in the sky as Sah the "soul of Osiris", the identification of this section of the myth seems relatively complete. Hera wears, not a wreath nor a tiara nor a diadem, but clearly the calyx of the pomegranate that has become her serrated crown.[citation needed] The pomegranate has a calyx shaped like a crown. In Jewish tradition, it has been seen as the original "design" for the proper crown. In some artistic depictions, the pomegranate is found in the hand of Mary, mother of Jesus.

A pomegranate is displayed on coins from the ancient city of Side, Pamphylia.

Within the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele, near Paestum, Magna Graecia, is a chapel devoted to the Madonna del Granato, "Our Lady of the Pomegranate", "who by virtue of her epithet and the attribute of a pomegranate must be the Christian successor of the ancient Greek goddess Hera", observes the excavator of the Heraion of Samos, Helmut Kyrieleis.

In modern times, the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. On important days in the Greek Orthodox calendar, such as the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and on Christmas Day, it is traditional to have at the dinner table polysporia, also known by their ancient name panspermia, in some regions of Greece. In ancient times, they were offered to Demeter[citation needed] and to the other gods for fertile land, for the spirits of the dead and in honor of compassionate Dionysus.[citation needed] When one buys a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate, which is placed under/near the ikonostasi (home altar) of the house, as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and good luck. Pomegranates are also prominent at Greek weddings and funerals.[citation needed] When Greeks commemorate their dead, they make kollyva as offerings, which consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated with pomegranate. It is also traditional in Greece to break a pomegranate on the ground at weddings and on New Years. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece and sold in most home goods stores.

ANCIENT ISRAEL AND JUDAISM

Pomegranates were known in Ancient Israel as the fruits which the scouts brought to Moses to demonstrate the fertility of the "promised land". The Book of Exodus describes the me'il ("robe of the ephod") worn by the Hebrew high priest as having pomegranates embroidered on the hem alternating with golden bells which could be heard as the high priest entered and left the Holy of Holies. According to the Books of Kings, the capitals of the two pillars (Jachin and Boaz) that stood in front of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem were engraved with pomegranates. Solomon is said to have designed his coronet based on the pomegranate's "crown" (calyx).

It is traditional to consume pomegranates on Rosh Hashana because, with its numerous seeds, it symbolizes fruitfulness. Also, it is said to have 613 seeds, which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.[61] This particular tradition is referred to in the opening pages of Ursula Dubosarsky's novel Theodora's Gift.

The pomegranate appeared on the ancient coins of Judea. When not in use, the handles of Torah scrolls are sometimes covered with decorative silver globes similar in shape to "pomegranates" (rimmonim). Some Jewish scholars believe the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.[60] Pomegranates are one of the Seven Species (Hebrew: שבעת המינים, Shiv'at Ha-Minim) of fruits and grains enumerated in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 8:8) as being special products of the Land of Israel. The pomegranate is mentioned in the Bible many times, including this quote from the Songs of Solomon, "Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks." (Song of Solomon 4:3). Pomegranates also symbolize the mystical experience in the Jewish mystical tradition, or kabbalah, with the typical reference being to entering the "garden of pomegranates" or pardes rimonim; this is also the title of a book by the 16th-century mystic Moses ben Jacob Cordovero.

IN EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN MOTIFS

In the earliest incontrovertible appearance of Christ in a mosaic, a 4th-century floor mosaic from Hinton St Mary, Dorset, now in the British Museum, the bust of Christ and the chi rho are flanked by pomegranates. Pomegranates continue to be a motif often found in Christian religious decoration. They are often woven into the fabric of vestments and liturgical hangings or wrought in metalwork. Pomegranates figure in many religious paintings by the likes of Sandro Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, often in the hands of the Virgin Mary or the infant Jesus. The fruit, broken or bursting open, is a symbol of the fullness of Jesus' suffering and resurrection.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, pomegranate seeds may be used in kolyva, a dish prepared for memorial services, as a symbol of the sweetness of the heavenly kingdom.

IN THE QUR´AN

According to the Qur'an, pomegranates grow in the gardens of paradise (55:68). The Qur'an also mentions pomegranates three times.(6:99, 6:141, 55:68)

AFGHANISTAN

Pomegranate, a favorite fall and winter fruit in Afghanistan, has mainly two varieties: one that is sweet and dark red with hard seeds growing in and around Kandhar province, and the other that has soft seeds with variable color growing in the central/northern region. The largest market for Afghan pomegranates is India followed by Pakistan, Russia, United Arab Emirates and Europe.

ARMENIA

The pomegranate is one of the main fruits in Armenian culture (the others being apricot and grapes). Its juice is famous with Armenians in food and heritage. The pomegranate is the symbol of Armenia and represents fertility, abundance and marriage. For example, the fruit played an integral role in a wedding custom widely practiced in ancient Armenia: a bride was given a pomegranate fruit, which she threw against a wall, breaking it into pieces. Scattered pomegranate seeds ensured the bride future children. In Karabakh, it was customary to put fruits next to the bridal couple during the first night of marriage, among them the pomegranate, which was said to ensure happiness. It is likely that newlyweds also enjoyed pomegranate wine. The symbolism of the pomegranate is that it protected a woman from infertility and protected a man's virility. Both homemade and commercial wine is made from pomegranate in Armenia. The Color of Pomegranates (1969) is a movie directed by Sergei Parajanov. It is a biography of the Armenian ashug Sayat-Nova (King of Song) which attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally.

AZERBAIJAN

Pomegranate is considered one of the symbols of Azerbaijan. Annually in October, a cultural festival is held in Goychay, Azerbaijan known as the Goychay Pomegranate Festival. The festival features Azerbaijani fruit-cuisine mainly the pomegranates from Goychay, which is famous for its pomegranate growing industry. At the festival, a parade is held with traditional Azerbaijani dances and Azerbaijani music. Pomegranate was depicted on the official logo of the 2015 European Games held in Azerbaijan. Nar the Pomegranate was one of the two mascots of these games. Pomegranates also featured on the jackets worn by Azerbaijani male athletes at the games' opening ceremony.

IRAN AND ANCIENT PERSIA

Pomegranate was the symbol of fertility in ancient Persian culture.[citation needed] In Persian mythology, Isfandiyar eats a pomegranate and becomes invincible. In the Greco-Persian Wars, Herodotus mentions golden pomegranates adorning the spears of warriors in the phalanx. Even in today's Iran, pomegranate may imply love and fertility.

Iran produces pomegranates as a common crop.[citation needed] Its juice and paste have a role in some Iranian cuisines, e.g. chicken, ghormas and refreshment bars. Pomegranate skins may be used to stain wool and silk in the carpet industry.

Pomegranate Festival is an annual cultural and artistic festival held during October in Tehran[citation needed] to exhibit and sell pomegranates, food products and handicrafts.

PAKISTAN

The pomegranate (known as "anār" in Urdu) is a popular fruit in Pakistan. It is grown in Pakistan and is also imported from Afghanistan.

INDIA

In some Hindu traditions, the pomegranate (Hindi: anār) symbolizes prosperity and fertility, and is associated with both Bhoomidevi (the earth goddess) and Lord Ganesha (the one fond of the many-seeded fruit). The Tamil name maadulampazham is a metaphor for a woman's mind. It is derived from, maadhu=woman, ullam=mind, which means as the seeds are hidden, it is not easy to decipher a woman's mind.

CHINA

Introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the pomegranate (Chinese: 石榴; pinyin: shíliu) in olden times was considered an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny. This symbolism is a pun on the Chinese character 子 (zǐ) which, as well as meaning seed, also means "offspring" thus a fruit containing so many seeds is a sign of fecundity. Pictures of the ripe fruit with the seeds bursting forth were often hung in homes to bestow fertility and bless the dwelling with numerous offspring, an important facet of traditional Chinese culture.

WIKIPEDIA

Himalayan Birch - Betula Utilis - origin: Bhutan by sftrajan

factoids from wikipedia:

The birch is considered a national tree of Russia, where it used to be worshipped as a goddess during the Green Week in early June.

In northern latitudes birch is however considered to be the most important allergenic tree pollen, with an estimated 15-20% of hay fever sufferers sensitive to birch pollen grains.

The chaga mushroom is an adaptogen that grows on white birch trees, extracting the birch constituents and is used as a remedy for cancer.

The bark is high in betulin and betulinic acid, phytochemicals which have potential as pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals which show promise as industrial lubricants.

Birch bark can be soaked until moist in hot water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm[citation needed].

The inner bark of birch can be ingested safely.((says wiki- not me)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

University of California Botanical Garden - December, 2007

HPIM2031

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. Mrytaceae. CN: [Malay - Serai kayu, Daun kelat, Kelat samak, Kelat putih, Kelat merah, Samak, Serah, Daun salam, Daun salam manting, Mantang, Ubah laut, Pokok palong, Jambu hutan], Indian bayleaf (generally referred with the same common name but the species in India is, Cinnamomum tejpata), Indonesian bayleaf, Salam blad. Native of Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand), Malesia (Brunei, Indonesia - Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra; Malaysia). Plant can reach up to 30 m. Elsewhere the plant is cultivated. The flowers are pink and somewhat fragrant while the fruits are round; red at first, later brown. The seeds are small and brown. The dried brown leaves are aromatic and somewhat sour; used as a spice in most areas where the plant are native. The main phytochemicals in this plant are - eugenol, citral and methylchavicol. In folk medicine the bark and other plant parts in combination is used to prepare decoction and poultices to relieve diarrhea and pruritis respectively. S. polyanthum is making its appearance in urban landscaping.

Synonym(s):

Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. [Illegitimate]

Eugenia holmanii Elmer

Eugenia junghuhniana Miq.

Eugenia lambii Elmer

Eugenia lucidula Miq.

Eugenia microbotrya Miq.

Eugenia nitida Duthie [Illegitimate]

Eugenia pamatensis Miq.

Eugenia polyantha Wight

Eugenia polyantha var. sessilis M.R.Hend.

Eugenia resinosa Gagnep.

Myrtus cymosa Blume [Illegitimate]

Syzygium cymosum Korth. [Illegitimate]

Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq.

Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum var. sessile (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner

Ref and suggested reading:

Macleaya cordata - leaf adaxial Vondellaan, Leiden, NL 6 July 2008 04 Leo by Leo breman

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Notes on Ethnobotany/Herbalism/Phytochemistry: Someone explain this to me! This plant has been used in Chinese traditional medicines for centuries, and plants with similar alkaloids have also been used by some native American Indians and in the USA in the late 19th century. The chemical which is most present in the orange sap and which is the active ingredient is a poison called sanguinarine. Sanguinarine is scary stuff!!! It burns away flesh by killing cells, the poison destroys the active transport Na+/-K+ ion transmembrane proteins which regulate osmosis and electrical charge, among other vital functions. Animal cells which come into contact with the poison simply burst. It has been used as a skin cancer treatment (doesn't work in most cases, bad idea!!! If this sounds like an option to you, please consider using a blow torch instead, it's probably more sterile) or a mole remover, scarring away the tissue and creating a large black patch of dead flesh called an 'eschar'. Drinking the sap gives you a disease known as 'epidemic dropsy'. People have died from this!

So why in the hell when I type 'Macleaya cordata' in Google, do all these adds appear of Chinese companies selling this chemical in bulk? Well, the poison is in our toothpaste (now you know why you shouldn't swallow it, kids), it is a normal ingredient/additive in cat and dog food, commercial fish feed, commercial stock fodder, and other animal fodder. BUT WHY!? It is used as a 'natural', growth-boosting, antimicrobial feed additive. The European Union banned use of 'artificial' growth-boosting antimicrobial feed additives a few years ago. Sangrovit is the company which markets the chemical extract as a feed additive. How or why it should work I haven't figured out. There is a confusing Czeck study out there which concludes that its use in rats at least is safe up to 14000 ppm, and a British study with tilapia (a type of fish) which demonstrates that it kills off the natural lactic acid bacteria living in the gut, but also has 'a positive effect on tilapia growth performance'.

Plants for a Future has a very nice summary of it's traditional ethnobotanical uses. The Japanese Wikipedia article, this German site (http://www.giftpflanzen.com/macleaya_cordata.html), and of course Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database have more.

So I would conclude that the traditional use as a anti-microbial and anti-fungal agent is what brought people to use this as a feed additive. It kills germs, or something.

So the last question then becomes: why are all those Chinese companies trying to sell this stuff with sleazy Google adds?

Phyllanthus reticulatus, Euphorbiaceae/Phyllanthaceae by CANTIQ UNIQUE

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Karang Asem, Catur Tunggal, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta, INDONESIA

Vernacular name (s)= Mangsi-mangsian/tinta-tintaan (something like ink from its fruits)

Usefulnes=Traditional medicine

Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves showed potential RNase H inhibition and protection against the viral cytopathic effects of HIV-1.

The herb Phyllanthus emblica has gained interest as a potential treatment for human bone disorders as well as diabetes patients.

Gaining attention for its potential effects against hepatitis B, research on Phyllanthus niruri has revealed possible antiviral activity also against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Phyllanthus plants have been used in folk medicine used to treat a wide number of diseases. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, various herbaceous Phyllanthus species are known as bhuiamla, a name previously assigned to P. niruri only. Bhuiamla is prescribed for jaundice, gonorrhea and diabetes (internal use) as well as poultices, skin ulcer and other skin problems (external use). Infusions are made from young shoots as a treatment of chronic dysentery. Not many of these supposed benefits, however, is established with modern scientific research.

The bark of Phyllanthus muellerianus, commonly called "mbolongo" in Cameroon, is used by pygmies as a remedy for tetanus and wound infections.

Phyllanthus muellerianus extracts are antimicrobial. Phyllanthus niruri may possibly help prevent stone formation/urolithiasis. Phyllanthus amarus root and leaf extract showed significant hepatitis C antiviral activity. Phyllanthus species for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection have been assessed in clinical trials, but no consensus regarding their usefulness exists. Phyllanthus acidus (leaf) showed antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves showed potential RNase H inhibition and protection against the viral cytopathic effects of HIV-1.

Leaves, roots, stem, bark and berries of this genus contain lignans (e.g. phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin) and a variety of other phytochemicals.

(Estoy Unico-extract: Wikipedia)

Merivia-SR by Thompson Chemists

Meriva®

A Breakthrough in Curcumin Absorption*

Whether taken as a supplement or from food, regular curcumin is generally poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. Working with Indena S.p.A., the worldwide experts in botanical extract technology, we have found the answer to better curcumin absorption – phytosome technology.* Two studies have shown Meriva Curcumin Phytosome to be significantly better absorbed than a standardized curcumin extract.*

Meriva (click on name to go to product pages)

For People Who Just Play Too HardTM

We all have occasional aches and pains from over-exertion. We play too hard, work too hard, and we pay for it with stiff joints and sore muscles. Meriva can help reduce the occasional stiffness and soreness we all experience.*

The body's normal inflammatory response is a natural process and a contributor to many reactions that go on in your body. This response happens automatically and is not something you can control. The primary objective of the body's normal inflammatory response is to isolate and eradicate irritants and then repair surrounding tissue.

What is "Normal Inflammatory Response?"

The term "normal inflammatory response" may not mean much to you, but its physical impact on your body is vitally important. It can arise from trauma, infection, or other influences, and is a normal process that encourages healing. From the slightest seemingly harmless bump on your arm to a major health concern, the body's normal inflammatory response is always at work to keep you as healthy as possible or to restore your health as best as it can. Of course, a lot of this depends on individual health.

The body's normal inflammatory response is the protective response of the body's tissues to irritation or injury. Sometimes this response can be prolonged due to a deficiency of essential fatty acids or other nutrients. In such cases, supplementation with beneficial fatty acids or other nutrients is often suggested. Sometimes there are other reasons for a prolonged inflammatory response and physical therapy or dietary changes may be helpful. For centuries, people have used natural chemicals found in plants (phytochemicals) to enhance the body's normal inflammatory response to injury or wear and tear. For example, the bark of the willow tree was used to relieve pain and discomfort more than 2,000 years ago by the Greeks and Romans and evolved into the aspirin we use today.

Curcumin – Supports the Body's Normal Inflammatory Response*

Turmeric, a well-known traditional herb, contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant that offers numerous health benefits.* Most of these benefits come from curcumin's strong antioxidant activity and its ability to support the body's normal inflammatory response.* Curcumin interacts with numerous biochemicals in the body to promote the body's normal inflammatory response and help keep this response functioning as it should.*

Emerging research suggests curcumin's antioxidant activity and support of the body's normal inflammatory response, as well as its potential to support already normal cholesterol levels, has a significant role to play in contributing to cardiovascular health, liver function, and joint health.*

Absorption You've Been Aching ForTM

The potential health benefits of curcumin are the subject of numerous ongoing clinical studies and have been featured in print media and television news programs. However, what makes curcumin so beneficial to the human body – its molecular structure – also makes it difficult to be absorbed into the bloodstream. If the curcumin isn't absorbed, it can't get to the body's cells that need it. To address this issue, Thorne Research has teamed up with Indena S.p.A., the worldwide experts in botanical extract technology, to bring you Meriva Curcumin Phytosome, a well-absorbed curcumin extract.*

Superior Absorption*

Phytosomes are plant extracts bound to phosphatidylcholine (fos-fa-tidal-ko-leen), which is an essential component of human cells. Our bodies make phosphatidylcholine, but we can also get it from food and supplements. When taken orally, phosphatidylcholine is very well absorbed.* To improve absorption, scientists at Indena found a way to attach curcumin to phosphatidylcholine – the result is Meriva! When you take Meriva your body readily absorbs the phosphatidylcholine and the curcumin attached to it, resulting in more curcumin reaching the cells that can benefit from it.*

Superior Bioavailability*

A 2007 study published in the journal Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology demonstrated Meriva's superior bioavailability compared to a standardized curcumin extract. This animal study noted a significantly greater amount of curcumin in the blood and tissue after dosing with Meriva. A human study compared blood levels of curcumin after dosing with 4 grams of a standardized curcuminoid extract to 450 mg Meriva curcuminoids (bound to phosphatidylcholine), and found similar blood levels of curcumin.

Ensure Superior Absorption When Purchasing Meriva

Thorne is the only company to provide Meriva in a patent-pending, time-release matrix, which causes the Meriva to be released slowly into the intestines, ensuring controlled absorption into the bloodstream.* This is similar to how nutrients are absorbed from a high-fiber meal. Non-time release products may absorb quickly – but in order to keep curcumin blood levels in your body consistent, more frequent dosing is required. Meriva-SR's sustained-release technology allows you to take it twice daily, because it is released more slowly into the body. Thorne Research does not add the flowing agent magnesium stearate to its Meriva product. This ensures you get only the purest product that contains no unnecessary ingredients that can inhibit the product's absorption. The whole concept with Meriva is that it can significantly increase the absorption of curcumin in the body; however, magnesium stearate may inhibit absorption. One reason physicians choose Thorne for their patients is that Thorne never uses magnesium stearate. Thorne is about purity and absorption.

Meriva-SR provides 250mg of curcumin phytosome per capsule in our patent-pending time-release matrix. Each bottle contains 120 vegetarian capsules.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. Mrytaceae. CN: [Malay - Serai kayu, Daun kelat, Kelat samak, Kelat putih, Kelat merah, Samak, Serah, Daun salam, Daun salam manting, Mantang, Ubah laut, Pokok palong, Jambu hutan], Indian bayleaf (generally referred with the same common name but the species in India is, Cinnamomum tejpata), Indonesian bayleaf, Salam blad. Native of Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand), Malesia (Brunei, Indonesia - Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra; Malaysia). Plant can reach up to 30 m. Elsewhere the plant is cultivated. The flowers are pink and somewhat fragrant while the fruits are round; red at first, later brown. The seeds are small and brown. The dried brown leaves are aromatic and somewhat sour; used as a spice in most areas where the plant are native. The main phytochemicals in this plant are - eugenol, citral and methylchavicol. In folk medicine the bark and other plant parts in combination is used to prepare decoction and poultices to relieve diarrhea and pruritis respectively. S. polyanthum is making its appearance in urban landscaping.

Synonym(s):

Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. [Illegitimate]

Eugenia holmanii Elmer

Eugenia junghuhniana Miq.

Eugenia lambii Elmer

Eugenia lucidula Miq.

Eugenia microbotrya Miq.

Eugenia nitida Duthie [Illegitimate]

Eugenia pamatensis Miq.

Eugenia polyantha Wight

Eugenia polyantha var. sessilis M.R.Hend.

Eugenia resinosa Gagnep.

Myrtus cymosa Blume [Illegitimate]

Syzygium cymosum Korth. [Illegitimate]

Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq.

Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum var. sessile (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner

Ref and suggested reading:

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. Mrytaceae. CN: [Malay - Serai kayu, Daun kelat, Kelat samak, Kelat putih, Kelat merah, Samak, Serah, Daun salam, Daun salam manting, Mantang, Ubah laut, Pokok palong, Jambu hutan], Indian bayleaf (generally referred with the same common name but the species in India is, Cinnamomum tejpata), Indonesian bayleaf, Salam blad. Native of Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand), Malesia (Brunei, Indonesia - Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra; Malaysia). Plant can reach up to 30 m. Elsewhere the plant is cultivated. The flowers are pink and somewhat fragrant while the fruits are round; red at first, later brown. The seeds are small and brown. The dried brown leaves are aromatic and somewhat sour; used as a spice in most areas where the plant are native. The main phytochemicals in this plant are - eugenol, citral and methylchavicol. In folk medicine the bark and other plant parts in combination is used to prepare decoction and poultices to relieve diarrhea and pruritis respectively. S. polyanthum is making its appearance in urban landscaping.

Synonym(s):

Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. [Illegitimate]

Eugenia holmanii Elmer

Eugenia junghuhniana Miq.

Eugenia lambii Elmer

Eugenia lucidula Miq.

Eugenia microbotrya Miq.

Eugenia nitida Duthie [Illegitimate]

Eugenia pamatensis Miq.

Eugenia polyantha Wight

Eugenia polyantha var. sessilis M.R.Hend.

Eugenia resinosa Gagnep.

Myrtus cymosa Blume [Illegitimate]

Syzygium cymosum Korth. [Illegitimate]

Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq.

Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum var. sessile (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner

Ref and suggested reading:

WineOh! Vinotherapy Cream Cleanser by Candace N'Diaye

Feed your skin with Wine-Oh! Vinotherapy Cream Cleanser, a soothing, naturally derived cleanser. The non-foaming formula is enhanced with antioxidant rich green tea, grapeseed oil, reservatrol (the powerful disease-fighting phytochemical found in red wine), vitamin C, black willowbark extract, oat extract, & cranberry seed oil to bring out your natural glow. An ideal choice for sensitive, dry, and normal-to-dry skin. This fluid, velvety cleanser leaves the skin clean, soft and protected against free radicals.

BELL PEPPER by Rushdi'SNAPS

The appeal of bell peppers goes way beyond their stunning good looks. Here’s a short list of the good things they can do for your health:

1-Bell peppers are low in calories! So, even if you eat one full cup of them, you get just about 45 calories. Bonus: that one cup will give you more than your daily quota of Vitamin A and C!

2-They contain plenty of vitamin C, which powers up your immune system and keeps skin youthful. The highest amount of Vitamin C in a bell pepper is concentrated in the red variety.

3-Red bell peppers contain several phytochemicals and carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene, which lavish you with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

4-The capsaicin in bell peppers has multiple health benefits. Studies show that it reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol, controls diabetes, brings relief from pain and eases inflammation.

5-If cooked for a short period on low heat, bell peppers retain most of their sweet, almost fruity flavor and flavonoid content, which is a powerful nutrient.

6-The sulfur content in bell peppers makes them play a protective role in certain types of cancers.

7-The bell pepper is a good source of Vitamin E, which is known to play a key role in keeping skin and hair looking youthful.

8-Bell peppers also contain vitamin B6, which is essential for the health of the nervous system and helps renew cells.

9-Certain enzymes in bell peppers, such as lutein, protect the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration later in life

www.blazerfarmz.com | Aronia-Jalapeño Jam by blazerfarmz

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Nature's Finest Premier Antioxidant!

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. by Ahmad Fuad Bin Morad

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. Mrytaceae. CN: [Malay - Serai kayu, Daun kelat, Kelat samak, Kelat putih, Kelat merah, Samak, Serah, Daun salam, Daun salam manting, Mantang, Ubah laut, Pokok palong, Jambu hutan], Indian bayleaf (generally referred with the same common name but the species in India is, Cinnamomum tejpata), Indonesian bayleaf, Salam blad. Native of Indo-China (Myanmar, Thailand), Malesia (Brunei, Indonesia - Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra; Malaysia). Plant can reach up to 30 m. Elsewhere the plant is cultivated. The flowers are pink and somewhat fragrant while the fruits are round; red at first, later brown. The seeds are small and brown. The dried brown leaves are aromatic and somewhat sour; used as a spice in most areas where the plant are native. The main phytochemicals in this plant are - eugenol, citral and methylchavicol. In folk medicine the bark and other plant parts in combination is used to prepare decoction and poultices to relieve diarrhea and pruritis respectively. S. polyanthum is making its appearance in urban landscaping.

Synonym(s):

Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. [Illegitimate]

Eugenia holmanii Elmer

Eugenia junghuhniana Miq.

Eugenia lambii Elmer

Eugenia lucidula Miq.

Eugenia microbotrya Miq.

Eugenia nitida Duthie [Illegitimate]

Eugenia pamatensis Miq.

Eugenia polyantha Wight

Eugenia polyantha var. sessilis M.R.Hend.

Eugenia resinosa Gagnep.

Myrtus cymosa Blume [Illegitimate]

Syzygium cymosum Korth. [Illegitimate]

Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq.

Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Masam.

Syzygium polyanthum var. sessile (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner

Ref and suggested reading: