Exotic Health Dictionary

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Exotic: From 1 Different Sources

adj. describing a disease occurring in a region of the world far from where it might be expected. Thus malaria and leishmaniasis are regarded as exotic when they are diagnosed in patients in Britain.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Murraya Exotica

Linn.

Synonym: M. paniculata (Linn.) Jack.

Family: Rutaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India and Andaman Islands up to an altitude of1,500 m.

Siddha/Tamil: Konji.

Folk: Kaamini; Aanthil (Bihar).

Action: Leaves—astringent; used in diarrhoea and dysentery (sap, squeezed from leaves, is administered). Root—antipyretic.

The plant is rich in coumarins, car- bazole alkaloids and flavonoids. The leaves contain a number of coumarins, the major ones being murrangatin and phebalosin. Murrangatin, derived from the precursor phebalosin, is reported to possess antithyroid property. The root contains a bis-indole alkaloid, yuehchukene, with potent antiimplantation activity.

Mexolide (dimeric coumarin), isolated from the stem bark is antibacterial. The steam distillate of leaves exhibit antifungal and antibacterial activity.... murraya exotica

Basil, Exotic

Ocimum basilicum

FAMILY: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

SYNONYMS: Sweet basil, Comoran basil (oil), Reunion basil (oil).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Botanically classified as identical from the French basil, though it is a larger plant with a harsher odour and different constituents.

DISTRIBUTION: Mainly produced in the Comoro Islands, but it is also processed in Madagascar.

OTHER SPECIES: The exotic basil is a dramatically different chemotype to the French basil and probably a seperate sub-species (possibly a form of O. canum), although this has not been specified. Essential oils are also produced in Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia from various chemotypes of the East Indian or shrubby basil (O. gratissimum), which contain a high percentage of either thymol or eugenol. The hairy or hoary basil (O. canum), originating in East Africa and found in India and South America, is also used to extract oils rich in either methyl cinnamate or camphor, which are produced in West and East Africa, India, the West Indies and Indonesia. See also entry on French basil.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: See French Basil.

ACTIONS: See Basil French.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the leaves and flowering tops.

CHARACTERISTICS: The Exotic type oil is yellow or pale green, with a slightly coarse sweet-herbaceous odour with a camphoraceous tinge. It’s scent does not compare with the ‘true’ sweet basil oil.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Mainly methyl chavicol (70–88 per cent), with small amounts of linalol, cineol, camphor, eugenol, limonene and citronellol.

SAFETY DATA: Methyl chavicol is moderately toxic and irritating to the skin: ‘the methyl chavicol content of Comoran basil is sufficient reason to discard it for therapeutic usage in favour of the French type.’6 There has also been some recent concern over the possible carcinogenic effects of methyl chavicol. Basil should be avoided during pregnancy.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.

OTHER USE The oil is employed in high class fragrances, soaps and dental products; used extensively in major food categories especially meat products and savories.... basil, exotic


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