Lec 9: Herbs and Essential Oils Flashcards
Describing words Spices are associated with…
feistiness, piquancy, and pungency
spices are from plants growing in
plants growing in tropical regions
herbs evoke thought of
pastoral scenes, old fashioned setting, home remedies, and sublet flavors
herbs are plants grown in
temperate regions
herb is an abbreviation of
herbaceous
herbs:
non-woody plants where the leaves are primarily used (sometimes fruit as well)
depending upon the species, spices can be derived from either the
dried bark, roots, fruit, or seeds
plant essential oils are the source of
aroma
herbs and spices produce small amounts of odors useful for
- culinary
- herbal medicine
- perfume industries
essential oils:
volatile terpenes or phenols responsible for the characteristic aroma of a certain species
essential oils are produced in
trichomes
essential oils occur in specialized multicellular structures known as
glandular trichomes, oil glands or oil vessels.
essential oils role
attract animals to flowers for pollination or to fruits for seed dispersion
essential oils are secondary plant products meaning
they aren’t critical for growth and development of plants
allelopathy
the effect a chemical from one plant can have on another plant in the same environment
allelopathy can be produced to
prevent growth or germination if other plants around them
essential oils can also function as
anti-feedants
anti-feedant
deterrent against insects but doesnt affect large animals in small amounts
anti-feedants kill
fruit fly eggs
herbs and spices were originally used to
mask or prevent spoilage
aromatic plants were burned (incense) to
communicate with spiritual world
perfume means
“per fumus” meaning “by smoke”
herbs and spices were used in Ancient Egypt …
medicinally and you preserve the dead
Ebers Papyrus refers to
medicinal herbs
egyptians used ___________…. for medicine
- myrrh
- cassia
- cinnamon
- cumin
- anise
- marjoram
Greece expanded
the spice trade routes
trade center for Mediterranean
Alexandria
Hippocrates used
herbs for medicine
Theophrastus noted a link between…
the dry mediterranean climate and aromatic herbs
herbs used to counter
imbalances in bodily humors
4 earthly elements are associated with
4 bodily humors
4 bodily humors
- blood
- phlegm
- black bile
- yellow bile
fire represents
yellow bile
earth represents
black bile
water represents
phlegm
blood represents
air
herbs and spices are classified as
hot and dry or cold and wet
global expeditions during Renaissance era were associated with
a desire for exotic spices
Magellan discovered the Spice Islands of
Molucca
Molucca is the original source of
nutmeg and clove
What family are Herbs from
mint and parsley
Mint family herbs are defined as
powerful plant leaves
Mint family originated near
coastal regions of the Mediterranean sea.\
mint anatomy
- square stems
- leaves from an alternate
- flowers are bilabiate (2 lips)
salvia (sage) means
to cure
sage anatomy
wiry stems, grey-green leaves w trichomes
sage uses
- for sore throats
- poor digestion
- mild stimulating tonic
essential oil of sage is produced in
leaf glandular trichomes
Thujone contains what properties
antiseptic and carminative
antiseptic
aids with digestion
carminative
reduces build-up of gas in the intestinal tract
Rosmarinus (rosemary) means
“dew” or “spray” and manirus means “sea”
volatile oil of rosemary contains a mixture of compounds including
borneol, camphene, camphor, and cineole
rosemary contains the antioxidant
rosmarinic acid
rosemary has what properties
- soothing
- reduces memory loss
- oils are useful in perfumed + conditioners and are effective against dandruff
rosemary is an anti-carcinogen as
it is high in antioxidants
thyme genus is greek for
to fumigate (used in incense)
thyme is native to
mediterranean
thyme contains a phenol called
thymol
thymol properties
antiseptic properties used in mouth wash and cough drops
Lavandula (lavender) means
to wash
distinct mint family herbs of Origanum genus
oregano and marjoram
oregano aroma is associated with
carvacrol and thymol
thymol marjoram is
more mild in taste
oregano rose in popularity during
WW2 when more Italian foods were brought to america
basil native to
india
basil flavor
sweet and aromatic due to oil glands on lower side of leaf
parsley family incudes
parsley, dill, anise, coriander, cumin, and caraway
parsley family flowers include
perennials, biennials, annuals
parsley commercial grown for
1 year
Apiaceae plants contain
umbel inflorescence and alternate compound leaves
where are essential oils found in Apiaceae
within the leaves except for anise, caraway, coriander
Apiaceae fruit anatomy
a dry schizocarp, with each half containing a single seed
Apiaceae fruit aroma occurs in
fruit walls
Coriandrum sativum is the source of 2 distinct herbs
- leaves as cilantro
2. fruit as coriander
best known Apiaceae herb
parsley
parsley is a symbol of
victory and death in ancient greece
natural breath freshener
parsley
parsley was first used by Romans for
culinary purposes
