Question

1.botanical facts about Turmeric and botanical ingredients found in turmeric

2. nutritional value of Turmeric  and secondary metabolites of Turmeric

3. how is turmeric  cultivated or made

4. botanical facts about board leaf thyme and botanical ingredients found in board leaf thyme

5. nutritional value of board leaf thyme and secondary metabolites of board leaf thyme

6. how are board leaf thyme made or cultivated

Answer 1

1. Botanical Facts:

Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant.

Botanical name - Curcuma longa

Family - Zingiberaceae

The root part is used for cooking. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Temp. required for growth is 20-30 degrees centigrade.

Botanical Ingredients :

1. Volatile oil containing turmerone is the main component of turmeric root.

2. coloring agent - curcuminoids are antioxidants(Demethoxy curcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin).

2. Nutritional value of turmeric

1. Help to retain beta carotene in a certain food.

2. Turmeric helps to prevent the HCAs (heterocyclic amines) in grilled meat which is a potential health risk.

3. Reduces the cancer risk - By antioxidant mechanism, anti-inflammatory mechanism, cell signaling, and cell cycle mechanism

4. Cardiovascular - regulates the blood fat level.

Secondary metabolites

1. Presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins.

3. How is turmeric cultivated?

1. Turmeric plant can be planted where rainfall is sufficiently early during april- May.

2. Grow in the shade so other plants can be grown along the borderline.

3. A healthy rhizome is used for planting.

4. Small pits are done for sowing the rhizome and covered with soil or manure.

5. Spacing approx. 40-50 cm between two rows.

6. Depending upon variety harvesting can be done in 7-8 months. The land is plowed and rhizomes are handpicked and cleaned.

7. Processing - Processing involved curing, polishing, and coloring

In curing fresh turmeric is cleaned and boiled then drying in sun. Polishing is done for good appearance manually or mechanically. To make it more attractive coloring can be done.

4. Botanical facts about board leaf thyme

1. Board leaf thyme is a medicinal plant also known as Indian Borage.

Botanical name - Plectranthus amboinicus Benth

Family - Lamiaceae

Succulent aromatic perennial herb.

Used as a flavor enhancer.

Botanical ingredients

1. A decoction of these leaves is useful against several respiratory diseases and digestive diseases.  

2. Contains essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes which are useful against gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria.