Public Health

OCIMUM SANCTUM LINN. Botanical name : Ocimum sanctum Family : Lamiaceae Vernacular names : Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali : Tulsi Marathi : Tulasa Tamil : Thulasi Telugu : Tulasi Malayalam : Trittavu Ocimum sanctum is a 30-75 cm high erect herb which is grown practically in every part of India. Hindus considered it a sacred plant and it is grown in every house. Macroscopy: Annual herb 30-75 cm high, much branched, stems and branches usually purplish, sub-quadrangular, sometimes woody below, clothed with soft spreading hairs. Leaves are 2.5-5 cm. long and 1.6-3.2 cm broad,…

Abnormal chromosomes may underlie fungal resistance to antimicrobials, according to a report in this week's Science. The researchers found that strains of drug-resistant Candida albicans commonly have extra copies of a chromosomal region containing genes that boost resistance. Understanding the formation of these extra chromosomal copies, known as isochromosomes, has implications outside of fungal drug resistance, said senior author Judith Berman of the University of Minnesota. "Isochromosomes form a lot in cancer cells and in other diseases in humans," she told The Scientist. "We think…

CHLOROPHYTUM TUBEROSUM (Roxb.) Family : Liliaceae Hindi : Safed musli Mundari : Kulaebo, Piri jadu, Piri tar Oraon : Oro arxa. Trade name : Safed musli This is a genus of two hundred species and twelve are native to India. These are rhizomatous herbs and roots fascicled, often thick fleshy and tuber like. It is a rhizomatous herb. Leaves are suberect lanceolate and many nerved. Inflorescence is an erect, dense-flowered racemes. Flowers are star like, white upto 2 cm across, sepals are acute, anthers are longer than filaments are green or yellow in colour, bracts are long. Seeds…

The plants of family Euphorbiaceae are mostly monoecious herbs, shrubs, and trees, sometimes succulent and cactus-like. With about 300 genera and 7,500 species, Euphorbiaceae is one of the largest families of plant world, which are further characterized by the frequent occurrence of milky sap. This family occurs mainly in the tropics, with the majority of the species in the Indo-Malayan region and tropical America. However, genus Euphorbia also has many species in non-tropical areas such as the Mediterranean, the Middle East, South Africa, and southern USA (Radcliffe, 1986; Chellaiah et al.,…

Biofuels with special reference to ecological impacts of biofuel cultivation Why Bio Diesel ? Many alternative Bio Diesel fuels have been shown to have better exhaust emissions than traditional Diesel fuel. Jatropha Bio diesel holds promise as fuel alternatives for diesel engine because :- Bio Diesel are renewable fuelDepletion of the Primary FuelsBio Diesel are agriculture orientedA number of researches have shown that jatropha bio diesel has fuel properties and provides engine performance that is very similar to diesel fuel The severe emission regulations in the world have placed design…

On important occasions, when man feels that his efforts and work are enough to bring forth result, he begins to depend on good and bad omens and oracles and totems Anonymous (1959). To get leaves of peepal ( Ficus religiosa Linn.), to burn camphor in a sandalwood (Santalum album Linn.) lamp, to wear a garland of Basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), or to keep plants of basil and sandal wood in the house are symbols of wealth and religious faith. It is believed that if basils fruits are put on the head of a person at the time of death, he goes to heaven. It is considered bad to pluck flowers in…

Aonla, Aonla Mewar Bawul, Bawul Marwar: Here plants are used to distinguish Mewar from Marwar. English rendering would be Cassia auriculata Linn. Characterizes Mewar, whereas Acacia nilotica Indica. characterizes Marwar. Below is the statement of Raja Bheem where he uses names of plants to distinguish his own land from that of his enemies in Rajasthan. “Wherever the Aonla (Cassia auriculata Dell.) put forth its yellow blossom, the land is of right ours; we want nothing more, let them enjoy their stunted Babuls (Acacia nilotica Indica.), their Kureels (Capparis deciduas), the aak (…

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON SOME IMPORTANT HERBAL MEDICINES Ethnobotany is a distinct branch of natural science dealing with various aspects such as anthropology, archaeology, botany, ecology, economics, medicine, religious, cultural and several other disciplines. Ethnobotany is usually defined as anthropological approach to botany. There are several methods of ethnobotanical research and those relevant to medicinal plants are archaeological search in literature, herbaria and the field studies. This term was coined by J.W. Harshberger in 1895 to indicate plants used by the aboriginals. It deals…

Traditional medicines are used in all civilizations and cultures in health care systems worldwide. Since the beginning of civilization, people have used plants as medicine. Ethnobotany is the study of use of indigenous plants by particular culture and region. Ethnobotanists explore how plants are used for food, shelter, medicine, clothing, hunting, and religious ceremonies. Perhaps as early as Neanderthal man, plants were believed to have healing powers. The earliest recorded uses are found in Babylon circa 1770 BC in the Code of Hammurabi and in ancient Egypt circa 1550 B.C. In fact,…

The intimate relationship between the human and plant world has evolved over generations of experience and practices. The tribal people and ethnic races throughout the world have developed their own culture, customs, cults, religious rites, taboos, totems, legends and myths, folk-fores and song, foods, medicinal practices, etc. The term "Ethnobotany” denotes the total relationship between man and vegetation. It is also considered as 'branch of economic botany, which deals with the role of plants in life and culture of aborigines and tribal people. The accumulated traditional knowledge of…