Question

Describe following medicinal plants –
(i) Haldi, (ii) Garlic, (iii) Amla, (iv) Jeera, (v) Methi, (vi) Mahua.

Answer 1

Ayurveda is an alternative form of medicines which Uses different herbs and products for administration of different diseases. The elderly folks in a household from a common place handed down their knowledge and experience about different herbs and products. These are the household remedies mostly of herbal origin, which they use to cure small day to day ailments, especially among the children. Such medicinal herbs which are used as remedies are referred to as drugs from Grandma’s pouch.

Complete Answer:
(i) Haldi (Turmeric):
- Botanical name : Curcuma longa
- Family name : Zingiberaceae
- Description of the plant : It is a perennial herb about 60-90 cm in height with tufts of erect leaves. Rhizome is cylindrical, ovoid, orange coloured & branched. Leaves are simple, very large, oblong, and lanceolate. Flowers are pale yellow in colour and are arranged in spikes. Flowering and fruiting occurs in the months of January to April.
- Part of the plant used : Rhizome
- Uses : Rhizomes are used as condiment and also as medicine. It is useful in conditions like inflammations, ulcers, wounds, leprosy, skin diseases, allergic conditions & discoloration of the skin, anorexia, ringworm infection etc. Regular use of turmeric both internally & externally imparts fair glow to the skin.

(ii) Garlic (Lahsun):
- Botanical name : Allium sativum
- Family name : Liliaceae (According to Bentham and Hooker’s system of classification)
- Description of the plant : It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from an underground bulb. Stem is tall, erect and up to 1 m in height. The leaves are flat, linear and wide with an acute apex. The plant produces pink to purple flowers. Flowering occurs in the months of July to September. The bulb comprises outer layers of thin sheathing leaves surrounding an inner sheath that encloses the clove.
- Part of the plant used : Bulb, leaves and flowers
- Uses : Garlic is used as condiment due to its pungent flavor and smell. Fresh garlic, garlic powder and garlic oil are used in food to add flavor. Fleshy cloves present in the bulbs are most commonly used for consumption as well as for medicinal purposes. It is used as medicine to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol level in the blood and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

(iii) Amla:
- Botanical name : Emblica officinalis
- Family name : Euphorbiaceae
- Description of the plant : Habit of the plant is a small or medium sized tree. Leaves are simple, sub-sessile and closely arranged in such a way that they appear as pinnate leaves. Fruits are fleshy and drupe types.
- Part of the plant used : Fruit, bark, leaves
- Uses : Amla is a highly rich source of vitamin C. The fruits are used for making pickles and murabbas, several Ayurvedic medicines and hair care products etc. The fruit as well as bark is used in tanning of leather. The bark is beneficial in various ailments like gonorrhoea, jaundice, diarrhoea and myalgia. The leaves are valuable in dyspepsia, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and dysentery. The fruits are useful for the treatment of diabetes, cough, asthma and bronchitis etc. Amla is the chief constituent of the famous Ayurvedic tonic called Chyavan prash and also of Triphala churna.

(iv) Jeera:
- Botanical name : Cuminum cyminum
- Family name : Umbelliferae
- Description of the plant : It is an annual plant with herbaceous habit. Stem is slender, glabrous and branched. The leaves are pinnately or bipinnately compound with thread-like leaflets. The flowers are borne in umbels and they are white or pink in colour. The fruit is an achene containing two mericarps with a single seed.
- Part of the plant used : Seeds
- Uses : Cumin is a good source of iron. It is a good expectorant, therefore, beneficial in cough, cold and bronchitis. It is used as a spice due to its specific flavor and aroma. It is useful in weight loss therapies because of its fat reducing capabilities. Jeera contains good quantities of vitamin B6, niacin and riboflavin; this is why it is beneficial in improving cerebral functions of the brain.

(v) Methi (Fenugreek):
- Botanical name : Trigonella foenum-graecum
- Family name : Fabaceae
- Description of the plant : It is an annual plant having herbaceous habit. Leaves are compound and each leaf consists of three ovate leaflets (trifoliate). Flowers are yellowish in colour, papilionaceous type. Fruit type is legume. Pods of the plant possess small and yellowish brown seeds having pungent aroma.
- Part of the plant used : Leaves, Seeds
- Uses : Methi seeds are used as folk medicine as well as medicine in Ayurveda. The seeds are good for digestion and are beneficial in anorexia and diabetes. Oil extracted from the seeds is used as a remedy for diabetes. Fresh leaves are used as green leafy vegetables across India. The dried methi leaves are called Kasuri Methi, and are used as flavouring agents in Indian cuisines. Kasuri methi is also used for treating digestive diseases.

(vi) Mahua (butter tree):
- Botanical name : Madhuca longifolia
- Family name : Sapotaceae
- Description of the plant : It is a medium sized tree having a short and stout trunk. The leaves are alternate. When young, the leaves appear pinkish or reddish in colour. Flowers are borne in bunches and each bunch is having 12 highly fragrant and cream coloured flowers. Fruits are fleshy and contain brownish seeds with an oily surface.
- Part of the plant used : Leaves, flowers and fruits
- Uses : The leaves, flowers and fruits are edible and used as vegetables in India. Sweet dried flowers along with wheat flour are used in making a sweet dish. Fruits are fermented to prepare alcohol. Mahua oil is extracted from seeds. This oil is used in making soaps and candles. The oil is useful in biodiesel production. Mahua seeds are used in soil reclamation and seed cake is used as fertilizer.

Note: Spices like haldi, jeera and garlic etc. are commonly used ingredients in Indian cooking. These spices not only add flavours to our food but they also boost our immune system.