AROMATIC PLANTS
Withania somnifera Ashwagandha Solanaceae
Withania somnifera, known as ashwagandha, is a shrub cultivated particularly in India whose roots have been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners. Withania somnifera root contains flavonoids and many active ingredients of the withanolide class. Several studies over the past few years have looked into the role of withania somnifera in having anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress, antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties. Historically wWithania somnifera root has also been noted to have sex-enhancing properties.
All chemicals listed pertain to the root unless otherwise specified, as the root is the part used.
Anaferine (alkaloid), anahygrine (alkaloid), beta-sisterol, chlorogenic acid (in leaf only), cysteine (in fruit), cuscohygrine (alkaloid), iron, pseudotropine (alkaloid), scopoletin, somniferinine (alkaloid), somniferiene (alkaloid), tropanol (alkaloid), withaferin A (steroidal lactone), withanine (alkaloid), withananine (alkaloid) and withanolides A-Y(steroidal lactones).
The main constituents of ashwagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloids, withanine is the main constituent. The other alkaloids are somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo-tropine, 3-a-gloyloxytropane, choline, cuscohygrine, isopelletierine, anaferine and anahydrine. Two acyl steryl glucoside viz. sitoindoside VII and sitoindoside VIII have been isolated from root. The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called withanolides. The withanolides have C28 steroidal nucleus with C9 side chain, having six membered lactone ring.
All chemicals listed pertain to the root unless otherwise specified, as the root is the part used.
Anaferine (alkaloid), anahygrine (alkaloid), beta-sisterol, chlorogenic acid (in leaf only), cysteine (in fruit), cuscohygrine (alkaloid), iron, pseudotropine (alkaloid), scopoletin, somniferinine (alkaloid), somniferiene (alkaloid), tropanol (alkaloid), withaferin A (steroidal lactone), withanine (alkaloid), withananine (alkaloid) and withanolides A-Y(steroidal lactones).
The main constituents of ashwagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloids, withanine is the main constituent. The other alkaloids are somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo-tropine, 3-a-gloyloxytropane, choline, cuscohygrine, isopelletierine, anaferine and anahydrine. Two acyl steryl glucoside viz. sitoindoside VII and sitoindoside VIII have been isolated from root. The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called withanolides. The withanolides have C28 steroidal nucleus with C9 side chain, having six membered lactone ring.
Aquilaria agallocha Agarwood Thymelaeceae
With origin from India, Aloeswood/agarwood oil is obtained from the Aquilaria tree, an evergreen tree native to northern India, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The aquilaria tree produces a resin when it responds to a natural parasite fungal or mold attack. The tree can also be deliberately wounded to make it more susceptible to a fungal attack, however this produces a inferior resin. The fungus and decomposition process generates a very rich and dark resin forming within the heartwood. This is a very slow process that can take several hundred years. That is why this oil is so rare and so expensive.
Resin oil used for fragrance and purfume industry.
Resin oil used for fragrance and purfume industry.
Michelia champaca Chempaka Magnoliaceae
The highlights of this evergreen tree are the mass of sweetly perfumed, creamy yellow flowers produced from summer to autumn, and its smooth grey trunk. Slender, glossy bright green leaves droop from horizontal branches while growing to 30m in its native Himalayas this tree rarely grows above 10m in cultivation.
Uses: An ornamental tree useful for large gardens and parks.
Position: Thrives in moist humus rich, well drained soil in sunny position protected from frost. Resents being transplanted.
Care: Provide adequate water in dry periods. Pruning is seldom needed.
Planting Guide: Cultivate soil before planting. Dig hold twice the width of container. Place the plant in hole so the soil level of the plant is the same as the surrounding soil. Fill hole firmly and water well, even if the soil is moist.
Uses: An ornamental tree useful for large gardens and parks.
Position: Thrives in moist humus rich, well drained soil in sunny position protected from frost. Resents being transplanted.
Care: Provide adequate water in dry periods. Pruning is seldom needed.
Planting Guide: Cultivate soil before planting. Dig hold twice the width of container. Place the plant in hole so the soil level of the plant is the same as the surrounding soil. Fill hole firmly and water well, even if the soil is moist.
Backhousia anisata Anise Myrtaceae
It has beautiful ornamental foliage which should be pruned to shape. It likes rich soil with good anchor water, is not as frost-sensitive as most other tropical species and can be grown as far south as Victoria. Steep in hot water for a delicious tea, or grind it up in a coffee grinder - without coffee - and put it into your bread maker for a delightful bush bread. Harvest when the leaf is firm and does not crack easily. The leaves will grow back straight away
Cymbopogon citratus Serai Poaceae
This valuable grass, believed to have originated in India, forms a dense clump of long, gray-green leaves reaching as much 6 ft (1.8 m) high, though mostly smaller.
It is rarely known to flower in cultivation, much less produce seed.
The crushed or bruised leaves have a strong lemon fragrance but are very tough and inedible; it is the fleshy white bases of the shoots that are used in Southeast Asian cooking, collected and used fresh. Extensively used in cooking for fragrance. Oil extracted used for body massage remedies. The leaves can be used fresh or dried to make a herbal tea.
Cultivation: Their main requirement is a climate with a long summer growing season, and a well-drained, light-textured but fertile soil. Propagate from seed or by division of clumps
It is rarely known to flower in cultivation, much less produce seed.
The crushed or bruised leaves have a strong lemon fragrance but are very tough and inedible; it is the fleshy white bases of the shoots that are used in Southeast Asian cooking, collected and used fresh. Extensively used in cooking for fragrance. Oil extracted used for body massage remedies. The leaves can be used fresh or dried to make a herbal tea.
Cultivation: Their main requirement is a climate with a long summer growing season, and a well-drained, light-textured but fertile soil. Propagate from seed or by division of clumps
Myristica fragrans Nutmeg, Mace Myristicaceae
Nutmeg requires warm humid conditions with an annual rainfall of 1500 to 2500mm and temperature of 25 330C. It grows well from sea level to an elevation of 1300m. Extreme dry climate as well as water logging are injurious to the crop. For the cultivation of nutmeg, river banks and hill valleys with sandy loam and red laterite soils are ideal. Partial shade appears to be beneficial in early growth stages.
Seeds and sowing: Nutmeg is normally propagated by seeds. The seeds soon lose their viability and should be sown immediately. Large seeds of uniform size, round shape, light brown color with thick mace and low terpene content are selected for sowing. Germination takes 4 6 weeks. The sprouted seeds are transplanted into polythene bags which can be planted in the main field after 6 12 months. Seedling progeny will give about 50% of each sex, which is very difficult to distinguish until the trees flower 4 6 years after planting. Cut off the surplus males at this stage, leaving one male to 10 females. Budding and grafting is followed to ensure female progeny. Nutmeg seedlings are planted in the main field in pits of 90 cm cube dug at 8 m spacing.
Manu ring: Apply cattle manure at 10 kg/pit and gradually increased to 50 kg/tree for 15 years old tree. Likewise, fertilizers at 20:18:50g N, P2O5 and K2O/tree in the first year is increased to 500:250:1000g in the fifteenth year.
After cultivation: Regular weeding and irrigation are required for good growth, early bearing and higher yield.
Plant protection: The hard scale (Saissetia nigra) infesting the shoots can be controlled by spot spraying with quinalphos at 0.05%. Shot hole caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, leaf blight and fruit rot by Botryodiplodia theobromae, leaf spot by Alternaria citri, sooty mould caused by Phragmocapinus betle and horse hair blight are the common diseases of nutmeg, which can be controlled by spraying 1% Bordeaux mixture repeatedly.
Seeds and sowing: Nutmeg is normally propagated by seeds. The seeds soon lose their viability and should be sown immediately. Large seeds of uniform size, round shape, light brown color with thick mace and low terpene content are selected for sowing. Germination takes 4 6 weeks. The sprouted seeds are transplanted into polythene bags which can be planted in the main field after 6 12 months. Seedling progeny will give about 50% of each sex, which is very difficult to distinguish until the trees flower 4 6 years after planting. Cut off the surplus males at this stage, leaving one male to 10 females. Budding and grafting is followed to ensure female progeny. Nutmeg seedlings are planted in the main field in pits of 90 cm cube dug at 8 m spacing.
Manu ring: Apply cattle manure at 10 kg/pit and gradually increased to 50 kg/tree for 15 years old tree. Likewise, fertilizers at 20:18:50g N, P2O5 and K2O/tree in the first year is increased to 500:250:1000g in the fifteenth year.
After cultivation: Regular weeding and irrigation are required for good growth, early bearing and higher yield.
Plant protection: The hard scale (Saissetia nigra) infesting the shoots can be controlled by spot spraying with quinalphos at 0.05%. Shot hole caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, leaf blight and fruit rot by Botryodiplodia theobromae, leaf spot by Alternaria citri, sooty mould caused by Phragmocapinus betle and horse hair blight are the common diseases of nutmeg, which can be controlled by spraying 1% Bordeaux mixture repeatedly.
Melaleuca cajeputi Kayu Putih Myrtaceae
Cajeput is a small tree with a tolerably erect but crooked trunk; a soft, thick, spongy, whitish, ash-colored bark; and scattered branches, with the slender twigs often drooping as completely as in the weeping willow (Salix Babylonica). The leaves are alternate, most frequently vertical, short-stalked, narrow- lanceolate, while young, sericeous, sometimes slightly falcate, entire, from 3 to 5 inches long, and from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch broad; and very aromatic when bruised.
Originating from Indonesia, it has a flexible body with milklike, spongelike bark that chips away easily. Traditionally cajeput in the due east is utilised for common cold, worries, septic sore throat, toothache, sore and painful muscles, feverishness, atrophic arthritis and varied disease of the skin. It was utilised in the herbal tradition to develop a sense of warmness and speedup of the heart rate. Native peoples utilised it for prolonged laryngitis and bronchitis, cystitis, rheumatoid arthritis and to release ringworms.
Cajeput is noted to have bactericide, antiparasitic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory drug and analgetic attributes. It is utilized as pharynx, lung, and venous sinus contagions, for urinary tract contagions, coughings, and intestinal troubles.
Chemical Constituents
Terpineol (Alcohol), Benzaldehyde (Aldyhyde), Cineole (Ketone), Dipentene, Limonene, Pinene (Terpenes).
Originating from Indonesia, it has a flexible body with milklike, spongelike bark that chips away easily. Traditionally cajeput in the due east is utilised for common cold, worries, septic sore throat, toothache, sore and painful muscles, feverishness, atrophic arthritis and varied disease of the skin. It was utilised in the herbal tradition to develop a sense of warmness and speedup of the heart rate. Native peoples utilised it for prolonged laryngitis and bronchitis, cystitis, rheumatoid arthritis and to release ringworms.
Cajeput is noted to have bactericide, antiparasitic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory drug and analgetic attributes. It is utilized as pharynx, lung, and venous sinus contagions, for urinary tract contagions, coughings, and intestinal troubles.
Chemical Constituents
Terpineol (Alcohol), Benzaldehyde (Aldyhyde), Cineole (Ketone), Dipentene, Limonene, Pinene (Terpenes).
Conditions of Use and Important Information: This information on the above herb is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects.
The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. These supplements mentioned are not intended to cure, treat, diagnose or prevent disease. The contents of this website are for informational purposes only.
Kelab Rakan-Rakan Herba KK Sabah does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence.
Site design and webmaster : Ganesan. T Questions or concerns can be directed to the webmaster at [email protected]
The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. These supplements mentioned are not intended to cure, treat, diagnose or prevent disease. The contents of this website are for informational purposes only.
Kelab Rakan-Rakan Herba KK Sabah does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence.
Site design and webmaster : Ganesan. T Questions or concerns can be directed to the webmaster at [email protected]