Download Ajwain: Ajwain is used in culinary process as a spice a s well as a

The great Indian Kitchen Chemistry
Dr. Brijesh Kumar
Scientist, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0522- 2612411 to 18
Fruits, Spices and Vegetables have historically been considered rich sources of some
essential dietary micronutrients. More recently they have been recognized as important
sources for a wide array of phytochemicals that individually or in combination, may
benefit health. Plants have been natural and traditional source of medication in different
dietary cultures all over the world. The history of dietary prescriptions dates back,
perhaps to the origin of human race. India is a land of spices and has a significant role in
the world market of spices. Kerala produces the maximum spices in India.
A Spice is a dried seed, fruit, root or vegetative substance used in nutritionally
insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills
harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It is not to advocate that people stop using their
normal medication but to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very
effective to help treating problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital life.
An Indian Kitchen is a jewel house for such wonder herbs which are used in daily diets
mostly for flavoring and aroma but apparently having the therapeutic and medicinal
potential. Few of the examples in this series are Methi, Cumin seeds (Jeera), Asfoetida
(Hing), Curcumin (Haldi), Black Pepper(Kali Mirch), Coriander (Dhaniya), Curry
patta(Cuurry Plant), Cinnamon(Dalchini), Cardamon (Elaichi), Garlic (Lahsun) etc.
Medicinal properties of some of the important spices and other medicinal plants used in
our kitchen are described below.
Methi: Methi seeds provide a tangy flavor and powerful curry scent to the vegetables
and lentil dishes. The seeds are rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Fenugreek has
shown antidiabetic effects in several human intervention trials. It is currently available
commercially in encapsulated forms and is being prescribed as dietary supplements for
the control of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by practitioners of complementary and
alternative medicine.
Ajwain: Ajwain is used in culinary process as a spice as well as major ingredients of
different kinds of medicines. In fact almost 60nos of diseases are reduced or terminated
by ajwain made medicines as claimed by users. The seeds are small but taste hot,
penchant, bitter, appetizer and is used as effective remedy in managing ailments like
vomiting, disease of heart and mouth, abdominal pain etc. in Unnani stream of medicines
1
it is considered as carminative and diuretic in nature and effective remedy of disease like
paralysis, weakness of limbs, pain chest, liver disease, hiccups, kidney and spleen
problem etc. The ajwain seed intake with honey or vinegar helps to remove stone with
urine flow as claimed by users. Its seeds soaked in water overnight and taken next
morning empty stomach helps in digestion and cure of acute dyspepsia.
Black Pepper: These are dried berries obtained from a creeper with woody stem. Tiny
white flowers appear in pendulous spikes, followed by spherical red berries. With a huge
list of medicinal properties pepper plays the home doctor in many Indian homes. Its
aroma is a treat to the senses and it is so commonly used that we can almost say that most
dishes have a sprinkling of pepper in one form or the other. Intake of ginger juice mixed
with a fine powder of peppercorns provides relief in cases of indigestion. The same
preparation is quite useful in cold as well. A paste of pepper powder mixed with a
teaspoon of honey restores the lost appetite. Pounding peppercorns on clean stony surface
and applying then over pimples help drying them without scars. A mixture of pepper
powder and ghee is very effective for eczema. Black pepper oil can also be used for
massage by blending with some other vegetative oil or diluted in a bath to assist with
circulation, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis and muscular pains.
Asafoetida (Heeng): The plant is a woody perennial tree with large tapering roots. The
dried resinous exudate of the root is what we commonly use in our kitchens and called as
heeng. It is rich in iron, minerals and calcium and occupies very high place in cooked
varieties, spices, medicines, for seasoning but should be used in very small quantities. It
is antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, expectorant, anthelminthic, and diuretic. Heeng
mixed with water is applied over and around naval for stomach disorders. Asfoetida
mixed in curry and taken as normal food material helps in combating malarial fever. It is
also used in respiratory ailments, indigestion, urine retention, whooping cough and
flatulence. This herb is considered to be the most valuable jewel in the treasure house of
Unnani Medicines.
Cumin seeds: Cumin plant is an annual herb. The plant has aromatic seed like fruit,
commonly known as jeera. These are extensively used in mixed spices and for flavoring
curries, soups, sausages, breads and cakes. Cumin seeds are highly beneficial in digestive
disorders indigestion, morning sickness, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhea and flatulence. Cumin
is effective in relieving sleeping sickness. Dilute cumin water is an antiseptic beverage
very effective in common cold and fever. The famous Greek physician Dioscorides used
black cumin seeds to treat headaches and toothaches. Mohammed said that black cumin
cures every disease but death itself. The reason might be found in the complex chemical
structure of the seeds. These little seeds have over one hundred different chemical
constituents, including abundant sources of all the essential fatty acids. It protects healthy
cells and stimulates production of natural Interferon. The scientists at Cancer ImmunoBiology Laboratory of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina have performed a study on its
cancer chemoprevention effects. Black cumin seeds mixed with honey and garlic are
excellent tonics for people with asthma or coughs as well as those who want to enhance
their immunity during cold and flu season or when an infection is setting in.
2
Turmeric (Haldi): It is perennial herb yielding a rhizome widely used as a culinary
ingredient. Both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines have used turmeric for the
treatment of inflammatory and digestive disorders. Research has focused the antioxidant,
hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties in addition to its
cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders.
Cadipatta: Curry leaves are used as culinary spice and also as a traditional medicine.
The leaf extract supplementation decreases blood cholesterol and glucose concentration
in diabetic. It also inhibited lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity in vitro. Curry
leaves have been studied for their antifungal activity also.
Cardamom or Elaichi: Cardamom, a perennial herb indigenous to the Indian sub
continent, contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds. In vitro studies showed that
cardamom inhibited platelet aggregation. Cardamom is called queen of spices because of
very pleasant aroma and good test. In India, it is used for many conditions, including
asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, anorexia, and general debility, as well as for disorders
of the urinary tract. It is also used for digestive upsets, soothing a spastic colon, and
relieving flatulence and constipation. It is effective to counter bad breath; and, when
taken with garlic, it helps to reduce the strong smell of garlic
Cinnamon (Dalchini): Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka and
southern India. Its bark has been widely used as a spice and flavoring agent. Cinnamon is
reported to have many biological activities including antioxidant, and antimicrobial
activity. Pre-clinical and clinical data shows cinnamon attenuated the progression of type
II diabetes.
Garlic (Lahsun): Garlic's health benefits and medicinal properties have long been
known. Garlic has long been considered an herbal "wonder drug" for prevention from the
common cold, flu and the Plague. Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of
acne and it is a powerful natural antibiotic. It can even be effective as a natural mosquito
repellent. Garlic is one of the most beneficial herbs for the digestive system.
Clove (Laung): The clove tree is an evergreen which grows to a height ranging from 8–
12 m. It has a major use as a local anesthetic for dental fillings. At one time, dentists
routinely used cotton swabs saturated with clove oil to relieve the pain of a tooth. The
essential oil extracted from clove by steam distillation has numerous uses, including as a
preservative on microscope slides, a topical anesthetic, a flavouring in gargles and
mouthwash, and as a mild germicidal in toothpastes, perfumes, and aftershaves. It is
believed to be a good stimulant for the mind, improving memory. Its antispasmodic
action eases coughs and, when applied topically, relieves muscle spasms.
Ginger (Adrak): Ginger is a knotted, thick, beige underground stem (rhizome). The stem
extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and
white or yellowish-green flowers. Ginger has been known to cleanse the blood. This is a
positive effect on the heart which, in turn, is a positive effect on all other bodily organs.
Today the rhizomes are commonly used in Asian medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis,
3
migraine, sore throats, to improve circulation and reduce fat deposits in the arteries.
Ayurvedic practitioners use ginger rhizomes as a cure for cholera, anorexia and 'inflamed
liver.
Coriander (Dhania): Coriander is a strongly aromatic, erect annual that typically grows
from 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) tall. In Asian folk medicine, coriander has been used to
treat stomach problems, nausea, fevers, measles, colds, and hernias. In Western folk
medicine, coriander was used primarily for digestive and gastric complaints. Coriander
seed oil is used in the pharmaceutical industry to mask the unpleasant taste of various
medicines. Coriander, like many spices, contains antioxidants, which can delay or
prevent the spoilage of food seasoned with this spice. A study found both the leaves and
seed to contain antioxidants, but the leaves were found to have a stronger effect.
Chemicals derived from coriander leaves were found to have antibacterial activity against
Salmonella choleraesuis. Coriander has been used as a folk medicine for the relief of
anxiety and insomnia in Iran. Coriander seeds are used in traditional Indian medicine as a
diuretic by boiling equal amounts of coriander seeds and cumin seeds, then cooling and
consuming the resulting liquid. In holistic and traditional medicine, it is used as a
carminative and as a digestive aid.
Fennel (Saunf): Fennel is another cooling spice. According to Ayurveda, fennel is
extremely good for digestion. In India, eating a few fennel seeds after a meal is a
common practice. It is an aromatic perennial that grows to about five feet in height,
having dark green, feathery leaves, umbels of yellow flowers. Fennel seeds are sweetish
in taste, and ground fennel works very well in sauces. The primary use for the herb is for
digestive upsets and settling stomach pain while stimulating the appetite. The seeds are
soothing for the digestive system. It aids in the treatment of kidney stones. It has a long
history of use for weight loss and warding off ageing. In Chinese and Hindu cultures
fennel was ingested to speed the elimination of poisons from the system, particularly after
snakebite and scorpion stings.
Chebulic Myrobalan (Harad): Chebulic Myrobalan is a flowering evergreen tree.
Harad is one of the important ayurvedic herbs used for any problems related with
digestion. Harad is a magical herb and its fruit is used to treat acidity, heartburn,
constipation, ulcers, piles, inflammation, dysentery and diarrhea. It can be used topically
also to heal infections, Boils or ulcers. Harad is one of the three fruits used in Triphala
churna. Harad is highly regarded as the 'king of medicines' in the Ayurvedic Medicine. It
is reputed to cure blindness and it is believed to inhibit the growth of the malignant
tumors. It is allegedly also a powerful detox agent.
Licorice (Mulethi): It is an herbaceous perennial, growing to 1 m in height. It is a
traditional treatment for erratic menstrual cycles and has been proven to induce the
production of estrogen, the hormone that regulates menses. Licorice is high in
phytoestrogens and is an effective treatment of menopausal symptoms. It is best when
combined with such other herbs also high in plant estrogens. Tinctures are used for
arthritic or allergic conditions, as a digestive stimulant, or for lung disorders. Prescribed
4
for gastric inflammation or to encourage adrenal function after steroid therapy, and also
used to help disguise the flavour of other medicines.
Mint: Although there are hundreds of kinds of mint, Peppermint is the one most often
used medicinally. Menthol is found in Peppermint. If the leaves of mints are rubbed on a
new beehive, it will attract bees. Peppermint is used to increase the flow of digestive
juices and bile while relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract. It reduces colic, cramps,
and gas, and helps to soothe the lining and muscles of the colon, relieving spastic
episodes. Applied to the skin, peppermint relieves pain and reduces sensitivity. Since it
reduces nausea, mint is helpful for travel sickness. Mint can be used to promote sweating
in fevers and influenza. In India, mint is used to tone the stomach, stimulate the mind and
body, rid the intestines of gas, and relieve muscle spasms. There, chutney is not just a
condiment, but also a way of taking medicinal herbs. Mint is added to fruit chutneys to be
taken as a tonic with every meal. The western practice of using mustard and ketchup
came from the Indian chutneys, but these certainly do not possess any of the healthful
qualities that the Indian chutneys contain.
Onion: Its pungency has a heating effect that increases circulation and causes sweating,
which is helpful in lowering fevers and sweating out colds and flu. If onions are planted
near roses, the scent of the rose is enhanced. Tea made from boiled onion skins are used
to improve poor circulation, especially in cases of gout.
Ocimum (tulsi): It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60 cm tall with hairy stems
and simple opposite green leaves that are strongly scented. Tulsi is cultivated for
religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely known across
South Asia as a medicinal plant and an herbal tea. Tulasi has mild antiseptic, analgesic
properties and it relieves the swellings also. The paste of leaves works well, with marica
powder, when applied topically in ringworm infestations. The dressing with the pulp of
its leaves effectively controls the infections and hastens the healing of chronic infected
wounds. The leaves when chewed mitigate the infections of the gums. Instillation of fresh
juice of the leaves into ears is an effective domestic medicament for ear aches. The
massage with the leaves juice improves the circulation beneath the skin and augments the
sensation in the skin. In the headache due to sinusitis, the instillation of juice in the nose
facilitates the secretions of kapha and relieves the headache.
In general, spices are recognized as safe by United States Food and Drug Administration,
when used in therapeutic doses. Some are reported to have adverse effects, usually
gastrointestinal. Spices impart aroma and test to food preparations and sometimes mask
undesirable odors. Volatile oils give the aroma and oleoresins impart the taste. All these
properties are linked with a vast and diverse class of organic molecules present in the
spices. Sophisticated Instrumentation Analytical Facility (SAIF), CDRI, Lucknow is one
of the oldest instrumentation facility established by Department of Science and
technology (DST) Government of India. It is actively engaged in identification and
5
characterization of bioactive molecules from plants. Direct Analysis in Real Time
(DART) Mass spectrometric technique is one of the simplest and best techniques to
directly identify and characterize molecules. DART MS produces exact mass and
molecular formula of compounds from plants or their parts as leaf, root, stem etc without
any sample preparation or isolation.
6