Cumin, turmeric finger and powder , chick peas, sesame seeds, coriander seeds and powder fenugreek seeds, red chilli whole and powder, clove , black pepper , nutmeg , green cardamom, pink salt, black salt, dry ginger , raisin, yellow mustard, black mustard.
Cereals, Pulses, Nuts, Oil Seeds, Sugar And Starch, Fiber Crops, Beverages, Spices And Condiments, Rubber Forages, Green And Green Leaf Manure, Fruits, Vegetables, Food Crops, Rabi Crops, Kharif Crops, Zaid Crops.
Spices, oil seeds , exotic spices, grains , cereals.Manufacture, exporter
Botanical Name - Brassica Alba Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Brassica juncea L. belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae) and has numerous common names, such as brown mustard, Chinese mustard, and oriental mustard. The leaves are ovate or obovate, simple and petioled; the flowers of the raceme inflorescences are bisexual, with four free sepals and four yellow petals, along with two longer and two shorter stamens. In China, brown mustard includes the hybrids of Brassica nigra and other Brassica species that have brown seeds, while oriental mustard has yellow seeds. This annual herb originates from the natural hybridization between black mustard (Brassica nigra L. Koch) and turnip mustard (Brassica rapa L.) Phytochemicals- "Black mustard contains about 1% sinigrin (allylÂglucosinolate), a thioglycoside-like compound (a so-called glucosinolate) of ally isothiocyanate with glucose. By action of the enzyme myrosinase, allyl isothiocyanate, a pungent, lachrymatory and volatile compound, is liberated (0.7% of the dried seed). Besides allyl isothiocyanate, in Romanian Brown Mustard another related compound is found, namely crotonyl isothiocyanate (2-butenylisothiocyanate). Isothiocyanates are also the main ingredients of white mustard, horseradish, wasabi, rocket and cress, all of which belong to the same plant family. The more distantly related capers similarly owe their pungency to an isothiocyanate."
Botanical Name - Brassica juncea/Brassica Nigra Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Brassica juncea L. belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae) and has numerous common names, such as brown mustard, Chinese mustard, and oriental mustard. The leaves are ovate or obovate, simple and petioled; the flowers of the raceme inflorescences are bisexual, with four free sepals and four yellow petals, along with two longer and two shorter stamens. In China, brown mustard includes the hybrids of Brassica nigra and other Brassica species that have brown seeds, while oriental mustard has yellow seeds. This annual herb originates from the natural hybridization between black mustard (Brassica nigra L. Koch) and turnip mustard (Brassica rapa L.) Phytochemicals- "Black mustard contains about 1% sinigrin (allylÃ?Âglucosinolate), a thioglycoside-like compound (a so-called glucosinolate) of ally isothiocyanate with glucose. By action of the enzyme myrosinase, allyl isothiocyanate, a pungent, lachrymatory and volatile compound, is liberated (0.7% of the dried seed). Besides allyl isothiocyanate, in Romanian Brown Mustard another related compound is found, namely crotonyl isothiocyanate (2-butenylisothiocyanate). Isothiocyanates are also the main ingredients of white mustard, horseradish, wasabi, rocket and cress, all of which belong to the same plant family. The more distantly related capers similarly owe their pungency to an isothiocyanate."
Botanical Name - Centratherum Anthelminticum Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - "Kalijiri, Ban jira, Vanyajiraka, Somraji, Bitter cumin are few common names of the seeds of a plant, Centratherum anthelminticum. The word anthelminticum in scientific name, clearly suggests the medicinal usage of the plant, which is to treat parasites. Due to hot, sharp, bitter taste, and strong bad odour, Kalijiri is not used in preparation of food but mainly as medicine. In Ayurveda, they are especially used in the treatment of intestinal parasites, and diseases of the skin. They are also used in the treatment of fever, cough, and diarrhea. In India, the seeds of three plants are known as Kalajiri or Black cumin viz. Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae), Bunium persicum (Umbelliferae), and Centratherum anthelminticum (Asteraceae). Also, there are two species of the plant which are known as Somraji, one is Psoralea corylifolia, and other is Centratherum anthelminticum. Both are used in the treatment of the skin diseases, and leukoderma. In Bengal, mainly Centratherum anthelminticum is referred as Somraji or Bakuchi / Babchi." Phytochemicals - "The major classes of chemical constituent present are glycosides, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and tannins, flavanoids, proteins, saponins, sterols, lipids, and fats. The seeds contain about 14.7% carbohydrates, 21.4% fat, 22.5% protein, 29.3% fiber, and 4.9% moisture. The seeds contain fatty acids viz. linoleic acid (50 %), palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid. The main active principle of seeds are Delta-7-avenasterol. They also contain demanolide lactone, vernasterol, Sterols, avenasterol, and vernosterol, a bitter principle, essential oil, resins, and fixed oil consisting of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and vernolic acids."
Botanical Name - Chenopodium Quinoa Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), which is considered a pseudocereal or pseudograin, has been recognized as a complete food due to its protein quality. It has remarkable nutritional properties; not only from its protein content (15%) but also from its great amino acid balance. Phytochemicals - It is an important source of minerals and vitamins, and has also been found to contain compounds like polyphenols, phytosterols, and flavonoids with possible nutraceutical benefits. It has some functional (technological) properties like solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC), gelation, emulsifying, and foaming that allow diversified uses. Besides, it has been considered an oil crop, with an interesting proportion of omega-6 and a notable vitamin E content.
Botanical Name - Coriandrum sativum Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves General Information - Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a glabrous, aromatic, herbaceous annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae1. It is commonly known as Dhaniya in Hindi, Dhanya in Sanskrit and Kotthamalli in Tamil. Coriander is one of the oldest spices mentioned in recorded history, with evidence of its use more than 5000 years ago. Its use was mentioned in Egyptian, Sanskrit and Roman literature. Egyptians called this herb the spice of happiness2. The coriander seeds are one of the most important spices in the world and are regularly used in the Indian Kitchen. The herb as young plants is used to prepare curry, soups, salads, and sauces, whereas the fruit is mainly used as a seasoning for pickles, cold meats, confectionery products and seasoning mixtures3,4. It is the most widely consumed popular ingredient in the world as a domestic spice, a traditional medicine, and a flavoring agent5. Coriander is available throughout the year providing a fragrant flavor that is reminiscent of both citrus peel and sage. Its essential oil is used in pharmaceutical recipes and as a fragrance in cosmetics6,7. In addition to culinary value, coriander is known for its wide range of healing properties. It is generally used in gastrointestinal complaints such as anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, griping pain and vomiting. Coriander fruit is also reputed as refrigerant, tonic, diuretic, and aphrodisiac, while, its essential oil is considered useful in flatulent colic, rheumatism, neuralgia, etc. Coriander is also used as antiedemic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, emmenagogue, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, lipolytic and myorelaxant, and possess nerve- soothing property8. Coriander is used to flavour several alcoholic beverages like gin9 Phytochemicals - The chemical composition of coriander revealed that the linalool was 72.3 and 77.7 %, while �±-pinene was 5.9 and 4.4 %, �³-terpinene 4.7 and 5.6 %, camphor 4.6 and 2.4 %, limonene 2.0 and 0.9 %, in Argentinean and European coriander, respectively44. The essential oil from New Zealand contained linalool, �±-pinene, �³-terpinene, camphor and limonene in the concentration of 65.8, 6.8, 6.1, 5.1, and 2.7 %, respectively45. In Russian coriander seed essential oil, linalool constitutes about 68.0 % of oil46. Hence we can conclude that linalool was the main compound in the coriander seed essential oil.
Botanical Name - Coriandrum sativum Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a glabrous, aromatic, herbaceous annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae1. It is commonly known as Dhaniya in Hindi, Dhanya in Sanskrit and Kotthamalli in Tamil. Coriander is one of the oldest spices mentioned in recorded history, with evidence of its use more than 5000 years ago. Its use was mentioned in Egyptian, Sanskrit and Roman literature. Egyptians called this herb the spice of happiness2. The coriander seeds are one of the most important spices in the world and are regularly used in the Indian Kitchen. The herb as young plants is used to prepare curry, soups, salads, and sauces, whereas the fruit is mainly used as a seasoning for pickles, cold meats, confectionery products and seasoning mixtures3,4. It is the most widely consumed popular ingredient in the world as a domestic spice, a traditional medicine, and a flavoring agent5. Coriander is available throughout the year providing a fragrant flavor that is reminiscent of both citrus peel and sage. Its essential oil is used in pharmaceutical recipes and as a fragrance in cosmetics6,7. In addition to culinary value, coriander is known for its wide range of healing properties. It is generally used in gastrointestinal complaints such as anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, griping pain and vomiting. Coriander fruit is also reputed as refrigerant, tonic, diuretic, and aphrodisiac, while, its essential oil is considered useful in flatulent colic, rheumatism, neuralgia, etc. Coriander is also used as antiedemic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, emmenagogue, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, lipolytic and myorelaxant, and possess nerve- soothing property8. Coriander is used to flavour several alcoholic beverages like gin9 Phytochemicals - The chemical composition of coriander revealed that the linalool was 72.3 and 77.7 %, while �±-pinene was 5.9 and 4.4 %, �³-terpinene 4.7 and 5.6 %, camphor 4.6 and 2.4 %, limonene 2.0 and 0.9 %, in Argentinean and European coriander, respectively44. The essential oil from New Zealand contained linalool, I±-pinene, I-terpinene, camphor and limonene in the concentration of 65.8, 6.8, 6.1, 5.1, and 2.7 %, respectively45. In Russian coriander seed essential oil, linalool constitutes about 68.0 % of oil46. Hence we can conclude that linalool was the main compound in the coriander seed essential oil.
Botanical Name - Crocus sativus Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Flower Bud General Information - Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae), commonly known as saffron, is a perennial stemless herb that is widely cultivated in Iran and other countries such as India and Greece. Commercial saffron comprises the dried red stigma with a small portion of the yellowish style attached. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees and butterflies. The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, requires well-drained soil, and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The flower has three stigmas, which are the distal ends of the plant's carpels. Together with the style, the stalk connecting the stigmas to the rest of the plant are often dried and used in cooking as a seasoning and coloring agent. Saffron blooms only once a year and should be collected within a very short duration. It is picked during 3-4 weeks in October-November. Phytochemicals - Saffron contains more than 150 volatile and aroma-yielding compounds. It also has many non-volatile active components, many of which are carotenoids including zeaxanthin, lycopene, and various �±- and �²-carotenes. The volatiles with a very strong odor are consistent of more than 34 components that are mainly terpenes, terpene alcohols, and their esters. Non-volatiles include crocins that are responsible for the red or reddish brown color of stigmas together with carotenes, crocetin, picrocrocin (a glycosidic precursor of safranal), the bitter substance and safranal the major organoleptic principle of stigmas. However saffron's golden yellow-orange color is primarily due to -crocin. This crocin is trans-crocetin di-(I-D-gentiobiosyl) ester.
Botanical Name - Cuminum cyminum Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an aromatic herb (Figure 50.1) of the Apicaceae family, and its dried seeds are used as a spice. In India it is commonly known as cumin or zeera, and is called kummel, comino, zirech-e sabz, cumino, kemon, zira, and kamun in various other parts of the world. It is native to India, Iran, the Mediterranean, and Egypt. Cumin is a mixture of united and separated mericarps, yellowish green/brown in color, elongated ovoid, and 3-6 mm in length. Cumin is widely used as a spice for its strong characteristic flavor in various ethnic cuisines around the world. Phytochemicals - The major compounds present in cumin oil include cuminal, I-pinene, I-myrcene, I-cymene, I-terpinene, and I-mentha-1,4-dien-7-ol. Cumin possesses many nutraceutical properties with many biological activities.
Botanical Name - Curcuma longa Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Tuberous rhizomes General Information - Turmeric (Curcuma longa L. syn C.domes tic a Val.) be lon gs to fami lyZingiberaceae, which is extensively culti-vated for its rhizomes. It is a perennialherb distributed throughout tropical andsub-tropical regions of the world includ-ing India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and SriLanka. Its rhizomes are harvested, washedand boiled in mild alkaline water to softenand dried in sun or in electric driers. It is used as colouring agent in pharmacy,confectionery, food industry, for dyeingwool, silk, cotton and in combination withother natural dyes to get different shades. Rhizomes are used ascosmeceutical, expectorant, antiseptic,anthelmintic, blood purifier, in leprosy,spleen disorders, rheumatism, bronchitis,cough and cold, insecticide, spasmolytic,hypotensive, cholera and syphilis. It is a minor ingre-dient of Ayurvedic drug for malarial fever, Acne-n-pimple cream, anti-wrinkle cream,blood purifier capsules and syrup, footcare cr eam. Phytochemicals - Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin andbisdemethoxycurcumin collectively knownas curcuminoids (3-6%) are major polyphe-nolic compounds in turmeric rhizomes. The main colouringprinciple of turmeric rhizome was isolatedin 19th century and named as Curcumin.Its chemical structure was determined byRoughley and Whiting (1973). Other phe-nolic compounds present in turmeric rhi-zome are 1-hydroxy-1, 7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(6E)-6-heptene-3, 5-dione;1-(4- hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(1E, 6E)-1, 6-heptadiene-3, 4-dione; 1, 5-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-penta-(1E, 4E)-1, 4-dien-3-one; 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-penta-(1E, 4E)-1, 4-dien-3-one; 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1, 6-heptadiene-3,5-dione and 1, 7-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4, 6-heptatrien-3-one.
Botanical Name - Elettaria cardamomum Category - Aromatic/Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Pods General Information - Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is an aromatic spice cultivated mainly in southern India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Guatemala, the Malabar coast and in Ceylon. It is a native crop of India. Also known as lesser or true cardamom, the spice is very important in world trade. Cardamom belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It has well-established culinary value and is used in a wide range of sweets and confectionery. Cardamom is an important ingredient of garam masala, a combination spice for many vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. In traditional medicine, cardamom seeds are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments including acute respiratory disorders, stomach complaints, bad breath, sore throat, colds, fever, bronchitis, gallbladder problems, flatulence, and colic. Phytochemicals - Cardamom is a rich source of the compound 1,8-cineole, which is present in most oils used by aromatherapists to treat various ailments and relieve tension. The oil extracted from cardamom seeds is a unique gift of nature, containing combinations of terpene, esters, flavonoids and other compounds. Cineole, the major active component of cardamom oil, is a potent antiseptic that kills the bacteria in bad breath and treats other infections and is also known to have expectorant activity for clearing breathing passages.
Botanical Name - Elwendia persica/Bunium persicum Category - Spices Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - "Elwendia persica, synonym Bunium persicum, is a plant species in the family Apiaceae. Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch is a plant of Apiaceae family called wild caraway. It is a perennial aromatic plant with small white or pink fowers and small brown beans growing wild in areas with Mediterranean climate such as central and western Asia including Iran, Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, North India (Kashmir and Pamir), China, some parts of Europe, Northern Africa and South America. This plant is called with diferent names throughout the world as Great pignut, Black zire, Black caraway, Carum carvi, Persian Cumin, Zire kuhi, Shah zira, Kala Zeera, Jira, Wild caraway and wild cumin. B. Persicum (BP) has small (30 cm) to tall (80 cm) varieties which squeezed or expanded with large or small branches. B. persicum (BP) is used for culinary intentions as a spice and flavoring agent in foods and beverages such as bread cooking, rice, yoghurt, cheese and in confectionery products. It has a strong earthy aroma is sharpened by frying and cooking it. This plant is also used in the perfume and cosmetics." Phytochemicals - Phytochemical profile of Bunium persicum (Boiss.) has shown flavonoids, phenolic acids, and aldehydes as well as a high content of mono-terpenes and sesquiterpenes contained in the essential oil and extracts of this plant. In recent years, application of natural compounds particularly medicinal plants has increased in food due to their potential to increase the food safety and shelf life.
Botanical Name - Emblica officinalis/Phyllanthus emblica Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Fruit General Information - Indian gooseberry or amla, scientifically known as Emblica officinalis Gaertn or Phyllanthus emblica Linn, is arguably the most important medicinal plant in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda, and in various traditional folk systems of medicine in the Southeast Asia. The fruits are a rich source of vitamin C and are of dietary and culinary use in India. In the traditional system of medicine, amla is used to treat a variety of ailments such as anemia, hyperacidity, diarrhea, eye inflammation, leucorrhea, jaundice, nervine debility, liver complaints, cough, and anomalies of urine. Scientific studies have shown that amla possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antiulcerogenic, free radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, antiatherogenic, adaptogenic, snake venom neutralizing, gastroprotective, antianemia, antihypercholesterolemia, wound healing, antidiarrheal, antiatherosclerotic, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective properties. In this update, we emphasize on the hepatoprotective effects of amla by emphasizing on the scientific studies that have validated the property. Phytochemicals - "Emblica officinalis primarily contains tannins, alkaloids, phenolic, amino acids and carbohydrates. Its fruit juice contains the highest amount of vitamin C (478.56 mg/100 mL). The fruit when blended with other fruits boosted their nutritional quality in terms of vitamin C content. Compounds isolated from Emblica officinalis were galic acid, ellagic acid, 1-O galloyl-beta-D-glucose, 3,6-di-Ogalloyl- Dglucose, chebulinic acid, quercetin, chebulagic acid, corilagin, 1,6- di-O -galloyl beta D glucose, 3 Ethylgallic acid (3 ethoxy 4,5 dihydroxy benzoic acid) and isostrictiniin. Phyllanthusemblica also contains flavonoids, kaempferol 3 O alpha L (6'' methyl) rhamnopyranoside and kaempferol 3 O alpha L (6''ethyl) rhamnopyranoside. A new acylatedapigenin glucoside (apigenin 7 O (6'' butyryl beta glucopyranoside) was isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Phyllanthus emblicatogether with the known compounds; gallic acid, methyl gallate, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloylglucose and luteolin-4'-Oneohesperiodoside were also reported"
Botanical Name - Ferula asafoetida Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Gum resin General Information - Ferula asafoetida is herbaceous plant of the umbelliferae family. It is oleo gum resin obtained from the rhizome and root of plant. This spice is used as a digestive aid, in food as a condiment and in pickles. It is used in modern herbalism in the treatment of hysteria, some nervous conditions, bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough. It was at one time employed in the treatment of infantile pneumonia and flatulent colic. The gum resin is antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, and sedative. The volatile oil in the gum is eliminated through the lungs, making this an excellent treatment for asthma. The odor of asafoetida is imparted to the breath, secretions, flatus, and gastric eructations. Its properties are antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, emmenagogue and vermifuge. Asafoetida has also been used as a sedative. It also thins the blood and lowers blood pressure. It is widely used in India in food and as a medicine in Indian systems of medicine like ayurveda. Asafoetida has been held in great esteem among indigenous medicines, particularly in Unani system from the earliest times. Phytochemicals - An analysis of asafoetida shows it to consist of carbohydrates 67.8% per 100 gms, moisture 16.0%, protein 4.0%, fat 1.1%, minerals 7.0% and fiber 4.1%. Its mineral and vitamin contents include substantial calcium besides phosphorus, iron, carotene, riboflavin and niacin. Its calorific value is 297, contains 40-64% resinous material composed of ferulic acid, umbel-liferone, asaresinotannols, farnesiferols A, B, and C etc., about 25% gum composed of glucose, galactose, l-arabinose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid and volatile oil (3-17%) consisting of disulfides as its major components, notably 2-butyl propenyl disulfide (E- and Z-isomers), with monoterpenes (�±- and �²-pinene, etc.), free ferulic acid, valeric acid, and traces of vanillin (LAF). The disagreeable odor of the oil is reported to be due mainly to the disulphide C11H20S2.
Botanical Name - Moringa oleifera Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves, Pods General Information - Moringa oleifera is a perennial tree, still considered as among underutilized plant and falls under Moringa ceae family. The plant is also known as Drumstick, Sahjan or Sohanjana in India. All plant parts are having remarkable range of some functional and nutraceutical properties (Singh et al, 2012) make this plant diverse biomaterials for food and allied uses. The leaves, flowers and fruits of this plant are used in the preparation of several delicacies in Indian subcontinent. Associated with high nutritional value of its edible portions pave a way in making this plant more popular as an important food source in order to combat protein energy malnutrition problem prevailed in most of the under developed and developing countries of the world. Phytochemicals - All parts of the Moringa tree (leaves, seeds, roots and flowers) are suitable for human and animal consumption. The leaves, which are rich in protein, minerals, carotene and antioxidant compounds, are used not only for human and animal nutrition but also in traditional medicine. The seeds, instead, have attracted scientific interest as M. oleifera seed kernels contain a significant amount of oil (up to 40%) with a high-quality fatty acid composition (oleic acid > 70%) and, after refining, a notable resistance to oxidative degradation. The oil is known commercially as Ben oil or Behen oil. Its properties make it suitable for both human consumption and commercial purposes. Indeed, Moringa oil could be a good substitute for olive oil in the diet as well as for non-food applications, like biodiesel, cosmetics, and a lubricant for fine machinery. Moreover, after oil extraction, the seed cake can be used in waste water treatment as a natural coagulant or as an organic fertilizer to improve agricultural productivity.
Botanical Name - Mucuna prurita/Mucuna pruriens Category - Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - The genus Mucuna, belonging to the Fabaceae family, sub family Papilionaceae, includes approximately 150 species of annual and perennial legumes. Among the various under-utilized wild legumes, the velvet bean Mucuna pruriens is widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) is an established herbal drug used for the management of male infertility, nervous disorders, and also as an aphrodisiac. It has been shown that its seeds are potentially of substantial medicinal importance. The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, traditionally used M. pruriens, even to treat such things as Parkinson's disease. M. pruriens has been shown to have anti-parkinson and neuroprotective effects, which may be related to its anti-oxidant activity. Phytochemicals - "Mucuna spp. have been reported to contain the toxic compounds L-dopa and hallucinogenic tryptamines, and anti-nutritional factors such as phenols and tannins . Due to the high concentrations of L-dopa (4 - 7%), velvet bean is a commercial source of this substance, used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The toxicity of unprocessed velvet bean may explain why the plant exhibits low susceptibility to insect pests. Velvet bean is well known for its nematicidic effects; it also reportedly possesses notable allelopathic activity, which may function to suppress competing plants. Despite its toxic properties, various species of Mucuna are grown as a minor food crop. Raw velvet bean seeds contain approximately 27% protein and are rich in minerals. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Mucuna was grown widely as a green vegetable in the foothills and lower hills of the eastern Himalayas and in Mauritius. Both the green pods and the mature beans were boiled and eaten. In Guatemala and Mexico, M. pruriens has for at least several decades been roasted and ground to make a coffee substitute; the seeds are widely known in the region as Nescafe in recognition of this use."
Botanical Name - Murraya koenigii Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Leaves General Information - Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng or its common name curry leaf tree is a small strong smelling perennial shrub commonly found in forests as undergrowth. It was originally cultivated in India for its aromatic leaves and for ornament is normally used for natural flavoring in curries and sauces. Originated in Tarai regions of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is now widely found in all parts of India and it adorns every house yard of southern India and also it is now cultivated and distributes throughout the world. Phytochemicals - This plant is known to be the richest source of carbazole alkaloids. It has been reported by authors that carbazole alkaloids present in M.koenigii (L.) Spreng and display various biological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammatory activities. The fresh leaves of Murraya koenigii contain 61.77- 66.2% of moisture, 2.1-12.5%of protein, 14.6-18.97% of total sugar, 9.7-13.06% of total ash, 1.35-1.82% of acid insoluble ash, 1.35-1.82% of alcohol soluble extractive and water extractive value ranges between 27.33-33.45%.
Botanical Name - Myristica fragrans Category - Spices/Medicinal Form - Dry Part Used - Seeds General Information - Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae) commonly known as nutmeg is a well-knownaromatic evergreen tree found in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Nutmeg mace is well known all over the world as an important spice. Nutmeg has beenshown to possess analgesic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiinammatory as well as hepatoprotective activities. With regard to itsmedicinal and commercial value, the dried kernel (seed) and mace/aril are the most exploitedparts.
