Public Health

Basil (Ocimum spp.), belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a pleasent by smelling perennial shrub which grows in several regions all over the world (AKGÜL 1993; BARIAUX et al. 1992). Basil is one of the species used for the commercial seasoning. It is commonly known that the presence of essential oils and their composition determine the specific aroma of plants and the flavour of the condiments. Many species of aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family grow wild in the Mediterranean basin (AKGÜL 1989; MAROTTI et al. 1996; SANDA et al. 1998; MARTINS et al. 1999). There are usually…

Ocimum basilicum Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum), a well known therapeutic agent for several pathological conditions possess anti-stress (Bhargava and Singh, 1981) and antioxidant (Gupta et al., 2006) properties and is also shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation (Geetha et al., 2004, Sethi et al., 2003). In modern poultry production, the rapid growth rate in broilers makes them vulnerable to stress. This in turn causes disturbances in the normal physiological functions of the body by way of increase in free radical generation. Oxygen radicals have been shown to catalyze the oxidative modification of…

Ocimum basilicum is known in Brasil as Manjericão and in countries of spanish language as albahaca. It is largely used in traditional medicine to bronchitis, coughs, sore throat, headache, stomach cramps, nausea, general pain and antiseptic. It can also be used in foods and flavorings [1]. It is among the plants that contain high concentrations of the defense compounds of the phenylpropene class (eugenol, chavicol, and their derivatives) [2-5]. It has been recognized as important spices for human consumption (e.g. cloves) and has high economic value. Source: R. J. C. Lima1, A. J. D. Moreno*1…

The CDC has released 3.4 million doses of the H1N1,or swine flu,vaccine, which will be distributed throughout the 50 states. More than 251 million doses of the vaccine will be administered to patients throughout flu season.  Although the panic factor surrounding the potential threat of a swine flu pandemic ishigh, lethal cases of H1N1 have been relatively low. Out of the almost 30,000 cases of swine flu that have been reported, most cases are mild. As of early September 127 people in the U.S. had died of swine flu.   Pat El-Hinnawy, H1N1 Public Affairs Specialist for the FDA, says "…

A new thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden says elite athlete injuries could be reduced if players perform injury-preventing strength training  with supervision.   About half of Swedish elite volleyball players suffer at least one injury per season. The thesis says that supervised strength training makes the athletes perform much better than when exercising alone. Two groups of female volleyball players were given different exercise programs. One group received personalised programs that were performed under the supervision of a…

Basil (Ocimum spp.), belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a pleasent by smelling perennial shrub which grows in several regions all over the world (AKGÜL 1993; BARIAUX et al. 1992). Basil is one of the species used for the commercial seasoning. It is commonly known that the presence of essential oils and their composition determine the specific aroma of plants and the flavour of the condiments. Many species of aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family grow wild in the Mediterranean basin (AKGÜL 1989; MAROTTI et al. 1996; SANDA et al. 1998; MARTINS et al. 1999). In a study of…

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is aromatic herbs that are used extensively to add a distinctive aroma and flavour to food. The leaves can be used fresh or dried for use as a spice. Essential oils extracted from fresh leaves and flowers can be used as aroma additives in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics (Simon, Morales, Phippen, Vieira, & Hao, 1999; Javanmardi, Khalighi, Kashi, Bais, & Vivanco, 2002; Senatore, 1996). Traditionally, basil has been used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of headaches, coughs, diarrhea, constipation, warts, worms, and kidney malfunction (Simon et al…

Men suffer noise-induced hearing loss more than women, it seems.   Guys just rock out more, you might think.  Better to burn out than fade away, and all that.   But it's primarily married white guys who can't turn the volume down, which means our families will have the next 70 years of repeating everything twice, and louder, because, let's face it, guys with rock star fantasies won't wear hearing aids.  What's to be done? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a preventable though increasingly prevalent hearing disorder that results from exposure to high-intensity sound,…

It seems like common sense that too much of even good things can be bad.  Everyone has heard about the damage that reactive oxygen species (ROS) – aka free radicals – can do to our bodies by now and the sales pitches for antioxidant vitamins, skin creams or "superfoods" that can stop them - so many that we will shut off comments for this article because it will be all spam. There is ample scientific evidence that chronic ROS production within cells can contribute to human diseases, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes but a new report in Cell Metabolism, says that low levels…

Scientific Name Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook ex Don (=V.roxburghii R.BR.) Family Orchidaceaae Used Part Root. Distribution Area An epiphytic orchid, 30-60 cm. high, found from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal, extending southwards to Kerala. . Common Uses . The root is a bitter heating alexiteric, antipyretic, useful in dyspepsia, bronchitis in lammations, rheumatic pains, diseases of the abdomen, hiccough, tremors. In Yunani system root is used as tonic to the liver and brain ; good for bronchitis, piles, lumbago toothache, boils of the scalp; lessens inflammation; heals fractures. The…