Spices with health benefits

Question 1

List examples of herbs with health benefits

10

Answer 1

anise, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, sage, saffron, thyme to turmeric.

Question 2

C. longa (and ginger) belongs to the family

Answer 2

Zingiberaceae

Question 3

Facts about plants in Zingiberaceae

Answer 3

Plants from this family are rich in essential oils which contain terpene-based compounds.

Question 4

Facts about rhizomes of C.longa

Answer 4

The rhizomes (underground stems) of have been cultivated for centuries in parts of Asia, mainly India and Indo-Malaysia. Currently it is grown C. longa and used more widely. Turmeric is the dried ground rhizome which has a distinctive dark yellow colour

Question 5

State other uses of Curcumin

Answer 5

it has a long traditional medicine use for over 2000 years for liver disorders and inflammatory conditions in Ayurvedic medicine. Recent evidence has demonstrated that curcumin does exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, turmeric has been shown to be hepatoprotective against liver damage by e.g. paracetamol. There is some indication that it also protects against stomach ulcers, and has antispasmodic and antibacterial activities.

Question 6

State the main compound that display anti-inflammatory property in C.longa

Answer 6

curcuminoids

Question 7

The main compound of interest that has received considerable attention in C.longa is known as

Answer 7

curcumin

Question 8

Curcumin is a ———compound with a diketone chain and symmetry within its structure.

Answer 8

phenolic

Question 9

List the health benefits associated with curcumin

Curcumin seems to be associated with many health benefits for a number of diseases for prevention and as well for treatment which include ____, _________, _____, inflammatory bowel disease and many others that have associated inflammation. It has also been found to promote ___________ since it inhibits inducible ____________ by interacting with transcription factors, pro-inflammatory transcription ________ and _________. Inhibition of _________ has also been demonstrated.

Answer 9

Curcumin seems to be associated with many health benefits for a number of diseases for prevention and as well for treatment which include allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, inflammatory bowel disease and many others that have associated inflammation. It has also been found to promote anticancer activity since it inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase by interacting with transcription factors, pro-inflammatory transcription NF-κB and AP-1. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase has also been demonstrated.

Question 10

What part of C.longa has been shown to display anti-asthmatic, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer activity?

Answer 10

polysaccharide fraction

Question 11

C. longa or curcumin have been shown to be tolerated in large doses and not to be toxic. true/false

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Studies have shown that its bioavailability is limited via the oral route and metabolised fairly quickly. True/false

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What is the scientific name of ginger?

Answer 13

Zingiber officinale Zingiberaceae

Question 14

State the uses of ginger

Answer 14

Ginger has been used as a culinary herb and as a medicinal-herbal agent (carminative and aid digestion) for many centuries in many parts of Asia (Ayurvedic medicine) and parts of Europe, associated with Greek and Romans.

Question 15

State the medicinal uses of ginger

Answer 15

Ginger root is promoted medicinally for motion sickness and as an antiemetic. It is also being used for postoperative nausea and morning sickness with pregnancy. Studies have shown that it also helps alleviate pain and inflammation associated with rheumatism.

Question 16

Ginger contains ——- which has a characteristic odour

Answer 16

volatile oil

Question 17

Ginger contains various ——- and —–

Answer 17

It contains various mono- and sesqui-terpenoids,

Question 18

State the compounds in ginger that are prompting interest

Answer 18

are a series of phenolic structures called ‘gingerols’.

Question 19

State the most abundant gingerol

Answer 19

is where n = 4 (6-gingerol).

Question 20

Facts about gingerol

Answer 20

These compounds are not very stable, and the process of drying or heating converts them to the corresponding ‘shogaols

Question 21

What is responsible for the spicy smell that is often associated with dry ginger?

Answer 21

‘shogaols’.

Question 22

State the benefit of gingerols on the body

Answer 22

orally administered 6-gingerol has been shown to overcome the vomiting reaction to cyclophosphamide

Question 23

ginger and gingerols have been shown to reduce levels of __________ that causes inflammation. TRUE /FALSE

Answer 23

ginger and gingerols have been shown to reduce levels of PGE2 (prostaglandin that causes inflammation. TRUE /FALSE

Question 24

State the pharmacological properties of Shagoals

Shogaols (for example 2, 7–10)] have pharmacological properties that in vitro mimic the __________ in intact human leukocytes, while an extract of________ was found to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis by inhibition in the production of ____________ (small proteins that are released by cells such as ___________ and __________ at sites of inflammation).

Answer 24

Shogaols (for example 2, 7–10)] have pharmacological properties that in vitro mimic the dual-acting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in intact human leukocytes, while an extract of Z. officinale was found to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis by inhibition in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (small proteins that are released by cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages at sites of inflammation).