n. a *lipid consisting of glycerol (an alcohol) combined with one or more fatty acids. See also triglyceride.
Habitat: Native to Central America. Cultivated in warmer climate than that required for C. maxima.
English: Squash.Ayurvedic: Kumshmaanda.Action: Fruit—used in headache, bronchitis, asthma; as diuretic in genitourinary disorders; as anthelmintic against tapeworms. Dried pulp is administered in haemptysis.
The lipids isolated from the seeds included glycerides, sterol esters, phos- phatidylcholine and phosphatidylinos- itol. The aqueous extract of seeds showed potent gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats.In Chinese medicine, Cucurbita mo- schata flower is used in jaundice, dysentery and cough; the root in jaundice, strangury, galactostasis and dysentery; the stem in irregular menstruation and scalds.... cucurbita moschataHabitat: Native to N. Mexico and eastern U.S.A. Now commonly cultivated in Northern India.
English: Pumpkin, Marrow.Unani: Safed Kaddu, Kumhraa.Siddha: Suraikayi (Tamil).Action: See C. maxima.
Key application: Seeds—in irritated bladder condition, micturition problems of benign prostatic hyperplasia stages 1 and 2. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) In childhood enuresis noctruna. (Expanded Commission E.)The roasted and fresh seeds yield 32.2 and 38.0% of fatty oil respectively. The oil filled capsules were administered to patients suffering from hypertrophy of the prostate. Results showed that the frequent urge to urinate decreased and the urine residues were minimized.The oil consists of the glycerides of linoleic 45, oleic 25, palmitic and stearic acids 30%. Sterols have been isolated.... cucurbita pepoHabitat: Native of Mediterranean region; cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
English: Olive.Unani: Zaitoon.Action: Leaves and bark— febrifugal, astringent, diuretic, antihypertensive.
Oil—preparations are used for cho- langiitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, icterus, flatulence, meteorism, lack of bacteria in the intestines. Demulcent and mild laxative. Externally used for wound dressing and for minor burns, psoriasis and pruritus. (Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.)Chemical investigations of two varieties—Ascotrinia and Ascolina— grown in Jammu region have shown that the characteristics of fruits and their oils are similar to those of European varieties.Leaves of Olea europaea gave iri- doid monoterpenes including oleu- ropein and oleuroside; triterpenes including oleanolic and maslinic acids; flavonoids including luteolin and api- genine derivatives. The oil contains glycerides of oleic acid about 70-80%, with smaller amounts of linoleic, palmitic and stearic acid glycerides.The leaves exhibited hypotensive, antiarrhythmic and spasmolytic activities in animal studies. The oil exhibited contraction of gallbladder due to raising of the cholecystokinin level in the plasma.India's requirements of olive oil are met by imports.... olea europaeaHabitat: Northwest Himalayas from Garhwal eastwards at altitudes of 1,800-3,000 m.
English: Neosia Pine, Edible Pine, Chilgoza Pine.Ayurvedic: Nikochaka. Unani: Chilgozaa.Action: Kernels—stimulant, carminative, expectorant. Oil from seeds—externally used for wounds and ulcers.
The kernels gave protein 15.9, fat 49.9, carbohydrates 21.6 and mineral matter 2.9%. The mineral constituents include calcium 90.8, phosphorus 92.4 and iron 2.4 mg/100 g. Pectin is present to the extent of 1.73% (calculated as calcium pectate). Seed protein on hydrolysis gave amino acids—leucine, iso- leucine, valine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine. The oil gave glycerides. The essential oil from oleoresin contains alpha-and beta-pi- nene as major constituents; other constituents are sesquiterpenes.... pinus gerardianaConstituents: palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid glycerides.
Action: demulcent, emollient, laxative, nutrient.
Uses, internal. While positive properties for the healing of wounds are present in a decoction of the leaves, it is for its oil that the tree is universally known. Taken for constipation and lead colic. Pin worms in children: 1 teaspoon daily for one month. Orally, the oil forms a barrier on the surface of the stomach thus arresting secretion of gastric juice. For this purpose it has been used with success for gastric and duodenal ulcer. Cases are on record of daily drinking a dessertspoonful of the oil to prevent heart disease and arteriosclerosis, and to alleviate muscular pain.
Olive oil is beneficial for increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and to decrease low density lipoprotein (LDL) which can have a detrimental effect upon the blood when in excess.
Uses, external. In some Levantine counries it is still the belief that rubbing the body with the oil prevents rheumatism, gout and kindred conditions. It is a common ingredient in liniments and lotions for aches and pains of the muscles.
The oil should be expressed by the ‘cold press’ method to preserve its active constituents. Cases are on record where the swallowing of a single black Olive stone (pit) has relieved serious low back pain within hours.
Aromatherapy. Used as a base oil in the absence of Almond oil. ... olive
Food and the products of digestion are moved from the throat to the rectum by peristalsis (waves of muscular contractions of the intestinal wall).
Food is broken down into simpler substances before being absorbed into the bloodstream.Physical breakdown is performed by the teeth, which cut and chew, and the stomach, which churns the food. The chemical breakdown of food is performed by the action of enzymes, acids, and salts.
Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars. Proteins are broken down into polypeptides, peptides, and amino acids. Fats are broken down into glycerol, glycerides, and fatty acids.
In the mouth, saliva lubricates food and contains enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates. The tongue moulds food into balls (called boli) for easy swallowing. The food then passes into the pharynx. From here, it is pushed into the oesophagus and squeezed down into the stomach, where it is mixed with hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Produced by the stomach lining, these substances help break down proteins. When the food has been converted to a semi-liquid consistency, it passes into the duodenum where bile salts and acids (produced by the liver) help to break down fats. Digestive juices released by the pancreas into the duodenum contain enzymes that further break down food. Breakdown ends in the small intestine, carried out by enzymes produced by glands in the intestinal lining. Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The residue enters the large intestine, where water is absorbed. Undigested matter is expelled via the rectum and anus as faeces.... digestive system
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