Category: From My Kitchen

Lilium sp.

(Plantae, Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Monocots, Liliales, Liliaceae, Lilioideae, Lilieae, Lilium sp.).

Members of the genus Lilium. are considered “true lilies”. Other flowering plants with “lily” in their name but not from the genus Lilium are not true lilies (daylilies, peace lilies, canna lilies, water lilies, toad lilies, and calla lilies). Butterflies are attracted to lilies, but these flowers are toxic for cats and dogs. Natural pests include the lily beetle and deer. Asiatic species have some amazing and very interesting colors plus distinctive markings like spots. The Oriental species are known for their strong fragrance. Longiflorum lilies are popular during Easter.

Habitat/Growing Information.

Lilies have large flowers and grow from bulbs. The flower has 6 trumpet-shaped tepals–3 on the bottom and 3 on top (top flowers rotated so that all 6 flowers are visible. These lovely flowers range in colors from orange, red, pink, white, and yellow. Lilies do well in both full and part sun in hardiness zones 4-8.

They prefer well-drained loamy soil (1 inch of rain per week). Lilies grow from 2-4 feet–one flower per one shoot per one bulb. Lilies can also grow in containers, but it is important that the soil be well-drained and that the plant gets enough sunlight. It is probably better to plant them outdoors eventually. Since the flowers are big and top-heavy, be sure to plant the bulb 7-10 inches deep into the soil.

Parts utilized.

Depending on the species of Lilium, different parts are used for different medicinal/therapeutic purposes. The flowers, leaves, stem, and root may be harvested.

Properties.

Lilium candidum aka. Madonna lily has historically been harvested for its beautiful flower and also for the medicinal properties of its bulb/root: treatment for burns; ulcers; inflammations; wounds (especially with pus); analgesic properties; (Özen, Temeltaş, & Aksoy, 2012; Patocka, Navratilova, & Yokozawa, 2019). Patocka et al. (2019) studied the ethanol extract of the flower and bulb finding flavonoids quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol.

Other studies identified various species of Lilium to have (but not limited to): carotenoids, saponins, sterol alkaloids, pyrrole alkaloids (lilalin, jatrophan), steroids (beta-sitosterol), acylglycerols, phenylpropanoids, and tannins (Wang et al., 2019). Lilium sp. have been used for anti-tumor, hypoglycemia, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemia, attenuating blood sugar, antioxidants, anti-depression, and anti-fatigue (Wang et al., 2019).

References

• https://www.thespruce.com/lily-types-to-grow-in-garden-1315809
• https://www.gardendesign.com/flowers/lilies.html
• https://garden.org/plants/group/lilies/
• http://mediplantepirus.med.uoi.gr/pharmacology_en/plant_details.php?id=388
• Özen, F. A. Z. I. L., Temeltaş, H. A. C. I., & Aksoy, Ö. Z. L. E. M. (2012). The anatomy and morphology of the medicinal plant, Lilium candidum L.(Liliaceae), distributed in Marmara region of Turkey. Pak. J. Bot, 44(4), 1185-1192.
• Patocka, J., Navratilova, Z., & Yokozawa, T. (2019). Bioactivity of Lilium candidum L-A Mini Review. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 18(5), 13859-13862.
• Wang, P., Li, J., Attia, F. A. K., Kang, W., Wei, J., Liu, Z., & Li, C. (2019). A critical review on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Lilium. Food Science and Human Wellness, 8(4), 330-336.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilium
• https://www.almanac.com/plant/lilies

Hibiscus L.

Hibiscus (Plantae, Malvales, Malvaceae, Malvoideae, Hibisceae, Hibiscus L.).

Can you believe that there are approximately 679 species of Hibiscus? Wow! Hibiscus are tropical deciduous shrubs/trees that can grow as big as 15-18 feet tall with 3-8 inch diameter flowers. Typical flower colors range from white, yellow, peach, orange, red, and purple. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to these flowers.

Habitat/Growing Information.

Hibiscus are a tropical plant–loves heat, moisture (not “wet & soggy”), and full sun (certain species can still thrive in part-sun and part-shade). Hardiness zones 9-11 work well for this plant. They like 1″ of rain per week, but the soil (preferably loamy, or a good potting mix if planted in containers) should be well-drained. They can be grown in a pot as well. For planting in the ground, give each plant about 3-6 feet of space.

Hibiscus do well in a tropical climate or one that “mimics” a tropical climate. Temperatures ranging from 60-85 degrees F are great, but they will need protection if the temperatures dip below 32 degrees F. If they’re planted in a pot, that’s the time to take them inside.

Hibiscus are a type of plant that needs extra nutrients in order for them to bloom. A high-potassium fertilizer in the summer as a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week or a slow-release fertilizer once a month is appropriate. You don’t need fertilizer in the winter.

For information on propagating Hibiscus, www.gardeningknowhow.com (listed in the references) has a great article which includes tips on how to propagate from cuttings vs. seed.

Natural pests include aphids, mealybugs, white flies, thrips, gall midge, spider mites, and hibiscus beetle. Some of these insects will cause the bud to die/fall off before being able to bloom. You can use sticky traps and some organic control methods to try control infestation.

Some popular species to try grow at home include: Hibiscus sabdariffa (red flowers cultivated for many uses), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn, Hibiscus sinensis, & Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Parts utilized.

The hibiscus flower petals, calyces, and leaves are harvested for a variety of uses including teas (“sour tea” for its tart taste) and topical applications. The petals make a lovely red tea color but oftentimes the calyces will be the main ingredient of herbal teas. Hibiscus-ginger is a popular tea blend.

Side Note. Let’s digress into a bit of botany. A sepal is the outermost protective part of a flower/bud. Multiple sepals = calyx. The plural of calyx is calyces. See the figure below.

Properties.

Traditionally, Hibiscus have been used for: antioxidant; GI distress; hypertension; fever; bacterial infection; antimicrobial properties; inflammation; constipation; cold symptoms; insomnia; contraceptic; diuretic; cough; nerve diseases; cardiac issues; attenuating/modulating blood lipids, and attenuating/modulating blood sugar (Khristi & Patel, 2016; Herranz-López et al., 2017; Lyu et al., 2020). The red Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. (aka red Hibiscus) and Hibiscus sabdariffa are favored in herbal medicine.

Red Hibiscus studies have shown that the following phytochemicals present are (but not limited to): tannins; flavonoids; steroids; alkaloids; saponins; phenols; and proanthocyanidin (Khristi & Patel, 2016). Cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside, quercetin-3-diglucoside, cyclopeptide alkaloid, cyanidin chloride, quercetin, hentriacontaine, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and thiamine were so found in red Hibiscus (Khristi & Patel, 2016; Herranz-López et al., 2017).

Hibiscus petals were found to contain (but not limited to): cyanidin diglucoside; flavonoids; thiamine; riboflavin; niacin; and ascorbic acid. Leaves and stems were found to contain (but not limited to): beta-sitosterol; stigmasterol; taraxeryl acetate; and 3 cyclopropane compounds (Khristi & Patel, 2016).

Lyu et al. (2020) studied the phenolic compounds in Hibiscus sabdariffa and found neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, rutin isomer, isoquercitin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin, quercetin isomer, and kaempferol. Phenolic and polyphenolic compounds help protect the body from oxidative stress.

References

• https://garden.org/plants/group/hibiscus/
• https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/how-to-care-for-hibiscus-plants.htm
• https://www.thespruce.com/caring-for-hibiscus-847914
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WC4VeLzeUk
• https://youtu.be/kSxRXhcm1Hw
• https://youtu.be/aghIPzQxPvw
• https://youtu.be/zjXAnxMy-Sg
• https://youtu.be/bl1hhp3ADx0
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus
• https://www.healthline.com/health/all-you-need-to-know-hibiscus#1
• Khristi, V., & Patel, V. H. (2016). Therapeutic Potential of Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis: A Review. International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, 4(2), 105-123.
• Herranz-López, M., Olivares-Vicente, M., Encinar, J. A., Barrajón-Catalán, E., Segura-Carretero, A., Joven, J., & Micol, V. (2017). Multi-targeted molecular effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa polyphenols: an opportunity for a global approach to obesity. Nutrients, 9(8), 907.
• Lyu, J. I., Kim, J. M., Kim, D. G., Kim, J. B., Kim, S. H., Ahn, J. W., … & Kwon, S. J. (2020). Phenolic Compound Content of Leaf Extracts from Different Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) Accessions. Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, 8(1), 1-10.

Cinnamomum sp.

Cinnamomum sp. from the family Lauraceae is a tree whose bark is harvested and dried to produce the cinnamon oil, cinnamon sticks, and cinnamon powder. Cinnamomum verum (aka Cinnamomum zeylanicum), native to Sri Lanka, is called the true cinnamon tree or Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon is the highest grade of cinnamon. Cinnamomum burmanni (aka Indonesian cinnamon, Korintje cinnamon, Padang Cassia) is the cheapest and most common type of cinnamon (you’re most likely to see in the stores and in powder form). Cinnamomum loureiroi (aka Saigon cinnamon, Vietnamese Cassia, Vietnamese cinnamon) is found in Southeast Asia. Cinnamomum aromaticum is commonly known as Cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon. It is found in Southeast Asia, southern China, and Myanmar.

Habitat/Growing Information.

Cinnamomum sp. is a rather short-lived evergreen–about 10 years. A mature tree grows to about 20 feet, but you can grow them 3-8 feet in containers. The cinnamon tree likes full to partial sun, humidity (regular rainfall like in a jungle environment), and well-drained soil that has a higher percentage of sand and silt. It grows in the USDA zones 9-11. White or green flowers (panicles or branched inflorescences) bloom in the summer.

Parts utilized.

The cinnamon tree may be harvested starting at 3 yrs old. The orange inner bark of the cinnamon tree is used to make oils, cinnamon sticks like you see in stores, and cinnamon powder. The branches can be harvested, and the tree can be cut down to the stump. The bark of the main trunk is harvested while the leaves, branches, and roots can be distilled to make cinnamon oil and essential oil preparations while oleoresins can be made via solvent extraction (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017).

The remnants of the cinnamon flower yield a sweet berry (aka Cassia berry) which can be used in jams/compotes or dried for tea. You’ll have to keep an eye out for them because birds love the berries! The berries (seeds inside) may also be kept to grow new plants.

Properties.

Cinnamon has been used for (but not limited to): GI distress; toothaches; colds; high blood pressures; dermatitis; and menstrual issues (Singletary, 2019). Cinnamon oil concentrate has an anesthetic/analgesic effect. Bioactive components are: cinnamaldehyde (bark); cinnamic acid; coumarin; linlool; eugenol (leaf); caryophyllene; pholyphenolpolymers; and protective properties against inflammation, oxidative stress, microbials, metabolic syndrome, high blood glucose, and high blood lipids (Ranasinghe & Galappathythy, 2016; Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017; Singletary, 2019). In Ayurvedic medicine, cinnamon has been used for digestive, respiratory, and gynelogical issues (Ranasinghe & Galappaththy, 2016).

Cinnamon was able to prevent food from spoiling via microbial activity (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017). Cinnamon also exhibited antibacterial properties against: B. subtilis, S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, S. typhi, and P. aeruginosa (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017). Cinnamon also has antifungal properties against: Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017). The essential oil from C. zeylanicum (500 ppm) inhibited growth of select species from Streptococcus, Enterococus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Mycobacterium, Clostridium, Listeria, and Candida (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017). The most important bioactive compounds for antimicrobials were cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, linalool, limonene, and citral (Muhammad & Dewettinck, 2017).

When used moderately, cinnamon is generally safe. Coumarin (C9 H6 O2, 2H-Chromen-2-one) is an aromatic compound that can be toxic to the liver (Singletary, 2019). Levels of coumarin vary by species but generally less than 0.01 g per 1 kg of plant matter in C. zeylanicum, and 3.6 g per 1 kg of plant matter in C. cassia (Singletary, 2019).

References

• http://www.botanicalauthentication.org/index.php/Cinnamomum_aromaticum_(bark)
• https://www.cinnamonvogue.com/Types_of_Cinnamon_1.html
• https://www.thespruce.com/cinnamon-plant-care-and-growing-guide-4690725
• https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Cinnamon_Tree_Berries_15608.php
• https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Coumarin

Muhammad, D. R. A., & Dewettinck, K. (2017). Cinnamon and its derivatives as potential ingredient in functional food—a review. International journal of food properties, 20(sup2), 2237-2263.

Ranasinghe, P., & Galappaththy, P. (2016). Health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a summary of the current evidence. Ceylon Medical Journal, 61(1).

Singletary, K. (2019). Cinnamon: Update of Potential Health Benefits. Nutrition Today, 54(1), 42-52.

Calendula officinalis

Calendula officinalis are sometimes known as “pot marigold” (of the genus Tagetes and the same family Asteraceae). Don’t get confused! “Pot marigold” are different from other garden marigolds. Calendula officinalis range from bright yellow to deep orange.

Habitat/Growing Information.

Calendula officinalis (considered an herb) love the sun. You can grow them indoors or outside (after the last frost). It takes 45-60 days for the plant to mature from a seed. Their blooms are usually 2.5-4 inches in diameter and the plants are 18-24 inches tall. They like full sun but can also grow in partial shade in garden beds or containers. Be sure to allow adequate space between plants. C. officinalis (a perennial) grows in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. However, it is often grown as an annual in zones 2-11.

Parts utilized.

The flowers and leaves (spicy) are both edible. Sometimes they are added to butter (for color) or soups. They may also be used in salves and lotions.

Properties.

Calendula officinalis has been used for wounds, burns, and rashes. If harvesting for the oils, be sure to clip the whole bud as the oils are mostly in the involucres (bract, whorl). C. officinalis has been used for: antioxidant; antibacterial; anti-fungal; antiseptic; anti-HIV; antiviral; anti-edematous; fevers; gastritis/gastro-protective; insecticidal; heart rate decreasse; cardio-protective; hypotension; jaundice; rheumatism; mucous membrane inflammations; and vomiting (Alnuqaydan, Lenehan, Hughes, & Sanderson, 2015; Baskaran, Marigold, Marigold, English, & German, 2017; Chaleshtori, Kachoie, & Pirbalouti , 2016; Miguel et al., 2016).

The essential oil of C. officinalis was found to have an effect against B. subtilis, E.coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes, E. faecalis, K. pneumonia, and C. albicans (Chaleshtori et al., 2016; Baskaran et al., 2017 ). A tincture preparation of C. officinalis had suppressive effects in vitro against herpes simplex, influenza A2, and influenza APR-8 (Baskaran et al., 2017). A preparation of chloroform extract of C. officinalis had inhibitory effects on HIV-1 replication and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (Baskaran et al., 2017). Chaleshtori et al. (2016) noted that the bioactive compounds in C. officinalis were: “triterpenoid like calendulaglycoside, triterpenoid saponin like faradiol, asorhamnetin3-O-neohesperidoside, quercetin and isorhamnetin” (p. 520).

Calendula officinalis has active compounds: steroids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and caretenoids (Miguel et al., 2016). Oxalic, citric, and fumaric acids were found in C. officinalis along with alpha, beta, and gamma tocepherols–about 23 mg of tocepherols per 100 g of plant dry weight (Miguel et al., 2016).

References

• https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-calendula/
• http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/sceneff01.html
• http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/shrub_fact_sheets/caloffa.pdf
• https://www.thespruce.com/growing-and-using-calendula-1402626
• https://chestnutherbs.com/calendula-sunshine-incarnate-an-edible-and-medicinal-flower/
• https://bibliotecadigital.ipb.pt/bitstream/10198/13571/3/342.pdf
• https://youtu.be/CVc7pRkUpgo
• https://youtu.be/w46LHwBz4_4
• https://youtu.be/KNRsXuFpVrw
• https://youtu.be/o5quSDg1LPo

Alnuqaydan, A. M., Lenehan, C. E., Hughes, R. R., & Sanderson, B. J. (2015). Extracts from Calendula officinalis offer in vitro protection against H2O2 induced oxidative stress cell killing of human skin cells. Phytotherapy research, 29(1), 120-124.

Baskaran, K., Marigold, C., Marigold, G., English, P. M., & German, B. (2017). Pharmacological Activities of Calendula officinalis. International Journal of Science and Research, 6(5), 43-47.

Chaleshtori, S. H., Kachoie, M. A., & Pirbalouti, A. G. (2016). Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial effects of Calendula officinalis essential oil. Biosciences and Biotechnology Research Communication, 9(3), 517-522.

Miguel, M., Barros, L., Pereira, C., Calhelha, R. C., Garcia, P. A., Castro, M. Á., … & Ferreira, I. C. (2016). Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of two aromatic plants: Calendula officinalis L.(flowers) and Mentha cervina L.(leaves). Food & function, 7(5), 2223-2232.

Zingiber mioga (“white arrow”, Japanese myoga)

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Zingiber mioga grows best in zones 8-11. This ornamental ginger produces orchid-like creamy yellow flowers near the ground and has glossy 3-foot stems and long green leaves streaked and edged white.

This is not the common ginger (Zingiber officinale) that is found in the grocery market and does not produce an edible root. Ginger is a perennial flowering rhizome (“rootstalk”) plant. Rhizomes are below ground (subterranean) plant stems that can send out roots and shoots from its node–typically extending horizontally, but also able to grow vertically.

Habitat/Growing Information.

Zingiber mioga is hardier than Zingiber officinale allowing Z. mioga to survive the Pacific Northwest weather and can be planted outdoors. It is reported to survive up to -10 degrees F. This plant likes moist soil and the morning sun and/or light shade. While it likes sun, make sure the light is filtered or indirect. New ginger plants require 1-3 yrs of uninterrupted/undisturbed growth before they will flower. If planting in a pot, make sure it is medium-deep and wide as this ginger spreads horizontally as well. Its orchid-like flowers bloom at the base of the plant.

Parts utilized.

The flowers (especially the buds) and shoots from Zingiber mioga may be cooked and eaten but its root is inedible. The unopened buds are somewhat of a delicacy (sometimes pickled), and the young shoots are commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Z. mioga has a milder flavor yet still distinctively “ginger”. The larger leaves may be used to wrap (and infuse flavor into) rice balls.

Properties.

The characteristic “pungent” flavor of this Z. mioga was identified as being comprised of 2-alkyl-3-methoxypyrazine, (E)-8-B-(17)-epoxylabd-12-ene-15, and 16-dial (miogadial, aframodial) (Abe et al., 2004). Miogadial is responsible for the flower buds’ flavor.

Z. mioga has historically been used: as anti-nausea; anti-migraine; anti-inflammation; anti-constipation; anti-diabetes; and other rheumatic and gastrointestinal maladies (Han, Lee, Kim, & Lee, 2015; Sharifi-Rad et al., 2017). Young flower buds and parts of the stem below ground (which contain zingerene, zingerone, shogaol, and B-phellandrene) have been used to attenuate menstrual issues, heart disease, and eye inflammation (Han et al., 2015).

Ginger oil extracted from the rhizome has active antimicrobial components a-zingiberene, ar-curcumene, b-bisabolene, and b-sesquiphellandrene (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2017). Gingerols are the main contributers from fresh rhizome; shogaols are the main contributors from dehydrated Z. mioga preparations (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2017). Due to the growing prevalence of drug-resistant microbials, scientists are trying to find more “natural” solutions (especially in food preservatives).

Z. mioga demonstrated antifungal effects on Candida albicans and Fusarium species (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2017). Ginger also demonstrated antibacterial effects on Pseudomona aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhi (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2017).

References

• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/tasty-ginger-can-look-good-in-the-garden-too/
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ZIMI4
• https://www.southernliving.com/plants/ginger
• https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/134575/Zingiber-mioga/Details
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/151801-Zingiber-mioga
• https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/ornamental-ginger/ornamental-ginger-plant-varieties.htm
• https://www.gbif.org/species/2757086
• https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/know-your-gingers
• https://homeguides.sfgate.com/ginger-plants-not-flower-71955.html
• https://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/gingers
• http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Zingiber+mioga
• https://www.flower-db.com/en//flower:1242
• https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/136225
• Abe, M., Ozawa, Y., Uda, Y., Yamada, F., Morimitsu, Y., Nakamura, Y., & Osawa, T. (2004). Antimicrobial activities of diterpene dialdehydes, constituents from myoga (Zingiber mioga Roscoe), and their quantitative analysis. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 68(7), 1601-1604.
• Han, J., Lee, S., Kim, H., & Lee, C. (2015). MS-Based Metabolite Profiling of aboveground and root components of Zingiber mioga and officinale. Molecules, 20(9), 16170-16185.
• Sharifi-Rad, M., Varoni, E. M., Salehi, B., Sharifi-Rad, J., Matthews, K. R., Ayatollahi, S. A., … & Sharifi-Rad, M. (2017). Plants of the Genus Zingiber as Source of Antimicrobial Agents: from Tradition to Pharmacy.

Zingiber officinale

This is the common ginger that is found in the grocery market and used for cooking. Ginger is a perennial flowering rhizome (“rootstalk”) plant. Rhizomes are below ground (subterranean) plant stems that can send out roots and shoots from its node–typically extending horizontally, but also able to grow vertically.

Habitat/Growing Information.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Zingiber officinale grows best in zones 9-12. This species of ginger may be grown indoors (potted) in the Pacific Northwest area, but it is a tropical plant. It would not survive the PNW outdoors. However, another species of ginger, Zingiber mioga, would do better in the PNW climate.

Plant it in the spring. This plant likes moist soil (well-draining, not water-logged) and the morning sun and/or light shade. While it likes sun, make sure the light is filtered or indirect. It likes heat and humidity. When the leaves die in the fall, it is ready to harvest. New ginger plants require 1-3 yrs of uninterrupted/undisturbed growth before they will flower. If planting in a pot, make sure it is deep and wide as this ginger spreads horizontally as well.

Parts utilized.

The rhizome itself is what you see in the stores. However, the flower petals and the leaves may also be used in cooking. The petals can be hard/tough but are flavorful. Chop them up very fine. You can use them to season food (e.g. add flavor to oil/sauce) and extract/filter them out before serving. The buds (before flowering) are more tender and edible in whole. The leaves may also be used, but can be tough. They have the same flavor as the root, but less intense. Chop them up fine and/or extract/filter them out before serving. The leaves may also be dehydrated, used as a garnish (fresh/dehydrated), and used in teas.

Properties.

Ginger has long been used in Chinese cooking and in Chinese medicine (ginger is the Yang). It has: antioxidant properties; vitamin C; Fe, Mg, Ma, Ca, P, K, Na; flavonoids; and phenolic compounds (Shahrajabian, Sun, & Cheng, 2019). Ginger has historically been used for: nausea; stomach cramps; motion sickness; morning sickness; anti-inflammatory; anti-hypertension; anti-edema; anti-cardiac disease; antibacterial; and anti-diabetic effects (Shahrajabian et al., 2019; Shidfar et al., 2015). Researchers are studying ginger’s active components: bisabolene, zingiberene, zingiberol (found in ginger oil); gingerol, shogaols, gingerdiol, gingerdione, paradol, alpha-zingiberene, curcumin, and beta-sequi-phellandrene (Shahrajabian et al., 2019; Shidfar et al., 2015).

Due to the problem of drug-resistant bacteria, scientists have been exploring more natural antibacterial means. Zingiber officinale has antibacterial properties (Islam, Rowsni, Khan, & Kabir, 2014). Islam et al. (2014) found that a soybean oil extract of ginger (a common method of food preparation in Bangladesh) exhibited antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella species, and Salmonella species (Islam et al., 2014).

References

• https://wimastergardener.org/article/ginger-zingiber-officinale/
• https://gardenerspath.com/plants/herbs/how-to-grow-temperate-ginger/
• https://www.southernliving.com/plants/ginger
• https://www.gardenguides.com/13426903-can-you-use-the-leaves-of-the-ginger-plant.html
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a763
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ZIOF
• https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/57537
• https://medcraveonline.com/IJCAM/ginger-zingiber-officinale-a-mini-review.html
• https://homeguides.sfgate.com/ginger-plants-not-flower-71955.html
• https://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/gingers
• https://www.gbif.org/species/2757280
• http://www.botanicalauthentication.org/index.php/Zingiber_officinale_(rhizome)
• https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Zingiber+officinale
• https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/ginger/infos
• Islam, K., Rowsni, A. A., Khan, M. M., & Kabir, M. S. (2014). Antimicrobial activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts against food-borne pathogenic bacteria. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology, 3(3), 867-871.
• Shahrajabian, M. H., Sun, W., & Cheng, Q. (2019). Clinical aspects and health benefits of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern industry. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil & Plant Science, 69(6), 546-556.
• Shidfar, F., Rajab, A., Rahideh, T., Khandouzi, N., Hosseini, S., & Shidfar, S. (2015). The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on glycemic markers in patients with type 2 diabetes. Journal of complementary and integrative medicine, 12(2), 165-170.

Moringa oleifera (“the drumstick tree seeds”, “Tree of Life”)

Moringa seeds come from the pods (like pea pods) of the moringa (or “drumstick”, “Tree of Life”) tree that is native to India (also grows in China, Africa, and South America.

Habitat/Growing Information.

The Moringa tree is hardy but likes heat and humidity (nothing less than 70 degrees F). In the United States, it should do well in hardiness zones 9-10, and perhaps zone 8 if indoors. They may grow from a cutting or seeds. Moringa can also be potted. They prefer sandy/loamy soil (equal parts soil, sand, clay, and silt)–well draining.

Parts utilized.

The Moringa seeds are commonly used but the bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits may also be used in a variety of products from supplementation to skincare. The seeds come in a “pod” similar to green beans. The seeds/pods may be cooked and eaten. Dehydrated seeds darken in color and resemble a nut. It is possible to extract oil from the seeds to be used in food or other topical applications (e.g. skincare). Its oil is known as “Ben oil” or “Behen oil” and somewhat resembles olive oil (Leone et al., 2016). Oil is 36.7% of the seed’s weight (Leone et al., 2016). The leaves may be cooked and eaten (like spinach) or enjoyed raw as part of a salad. The leaves may be dehydrated and used more like a tea. The leaves may also be dried and ground up into a powder to use as various condiments/ingredients.

Properties.

Moringa seeds are high in vitamins A, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B6. They are also good sources of phytochemicals, folate/ascorbic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Moringa leaves are rich sources of protein, minerals, B-carotene, and antioxidants (Leone et al., 2016; Kou, Li, Olayanju, Drake, & Chen, 2018).

Moringa seeds have long been used in Asia for a variety of remedies due to their medicinal properties: regulate blood sugar; antioxidant; stomach pain; anti-bacterial/anti-fungal; digestive aid; water purification; attenuate inflammatory response; hepatoprotective; neuroprotective (Leone et al., 2016; Kou et al., 2018).

Further research on the Moringa tree products and properties should be very interesting.

References

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916.php#what-is-in-moringa
• https://food.ndtv.com/health/10-incredible-health-benefits-of-moringa-seeds-1645730
• https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1242/moringa
• https://moringafarms.com/growing-moringa/
• https://www.bobvila.com/articles/loamy-soil/
• Leone, A., Spada, A., Battezzati, A., Schiraldi, A., Aristil, J., & Bertoli, S. (2016). Moringa oleifera seeds and oil: Characteristics and uses for human health. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(12), 2141.
• Kou, X., Li, B., Olayanju, J., Drake, J., & Chen, N. (2018). Nutraceutical or Pharmacological Potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. Nutrients, 10(3), 343.

Momordica charantia

The Chinese bitter melon/cucumber (of the Cucurbitaceae family) is shaped like a large American cucumber. Bitter melon (typically 7-9 inches in length) has a very deeply “wrinkled-looking” grass-green (as opposed to the darker colored skin of the American cucumber) soft skin and has tapered ends.

Habitat/Growing Information.

The plant prefers heat (warm to hot) & moisture–a somewhat tropical climate for at least 3-4 months to grow to maturity. Plant them late spring or when the weather is consistently 75 to 80 degrees F. Like cucumbers, the bitter melon grows on a vine. Trellises may be useful to keep the growing melons from touching the ground. Keep the soil moist and well-drained–not waterlogged. Harvest while it is green–at its best. As it ripens/over-ripens it goes from green to yellow to orange. Each plant produces 10-12 melons.

Parts utilized.

Similar to the cucumber, the flesh is used (sometimes dehydrated) and the seeds are discarded. You can use it to stir-fry or even stuffed or in soups.

Properties.

The amount of bitterness depends on the melon’s color. Green bitter melons tend to be the most bitter; white bitter melons are less bitter. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, these vegetables are rich in phenolic compounds, vitamin A and C and iron (Islam & Jalaluddin, 2019). The bitter melon also had higher contents of potassium, calcium, magnesium, dietary fiber, niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin than other more common staple vegetables found in grocery stores (Islam & Jalaluddin, 2019 ).

Other researchers have found the bitter melon’s effects to be antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-tumor, antimutagenic, anti-lipolytic, analgesic, antiviral, analgesic, abortifacient, hypoglycemic, and immunomodulatory (Islam & Jalauddin, 2019; Jia, Shen, Zhang, & Xie, 2017; Shivanagoudra et al., 2019).

Shivanagoudra et al. (2019) found bitter melon extracts to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic cells, to protect pancreatic B-cells from inflammation, and to reduce lipid proliferation in adipocytes.

Bitter melon has been used for hundreds of years in Asia, but further research is needed to uncover all of its “secrets” including a dose-response profile.

References

• https://www.thespruceeats.com/the-best-bitter-melon-recipes-4071414
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MOCH2
• https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-bitter-melon/
• Islam, S., & Jalaluddin, M. (2019). Biological Functions and Sensory Attributes of Different Skin Colored Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) Varieties. American Journal of Food Science and Health, 5(2), 25-31.
• Jia, S., Shen, M., Zhang, F., & Xie, J. (2017). Recent advances in Momordica charantia: functional components and biological activities. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(12), 2555.
• Shivanagoudra, S. R., Perera, W. H., Perez, J. L., Athrey, G., Sun, Y., Wu, C. S., … & Patil, B. S. (2019). In vitro and in silico elucidation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of bioactive compounds from Momordica charantia L. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry.