A monograph about artichoke Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

A monograph about artichoke - Essay Example ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 15 A. Cynara 15 B. Helianthus tuberosus 17 C. Stachys affinis 18 VII. PHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE 18 A. Cynara 18 a. Antimicrobial Activities 21 b. Antioxidant Activities 22 c. Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibition 22 d. Cardioprotection 23 e. Hepatoprotective and Choleretic 23 f. Dyspepsia 24 g. Anti HIV 24 h. Anticancer 25 B. Helianthus tuberosus 25 A. Stachys affinis 25 Conclusion: 25 REFERENCES 28 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Globe Artichoke Flower 8 Figure 2: Globe Artichoke Thistle 8 Figure 3: Jerusalem Artichoke Plant 9 Figure 4: Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers 9 Figure 5: Chinese Artichoke Plant 10 Figure 6: Chinese Artichoke Tubers 10 Figure 7: Lineage of Cynara 14 Figure 8: Lineage of Helianthus tuberosus 15 Figure 9: Lineage of Stachys affinis 16 Figure 10: Immature Floral Head of Globe Artichoke 18 Figure 11: The three routes in phenylpropanoid metabolism (1, 2 and 3) proposed for Chlorogenic acid (CGA) synthesis (Camino, 2007) 21 ARTICHOKES I. INTRODUCTION Co mmon names, in contrast to scientific names approved by the binomial nomenclature lead to grave confusion in the identification and study of living organisms. A common name indiscreetly applied to varied plants is artichoke. The name artichoke refers to three groups of taxonomically distinct plants; the globe artichoke (Cynara), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) and the Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis). While in the latter two the edible part is the tuber, in the former the floral bud is edible. Accordingly the word artichoke also refers to the edible bud of the globe artichoke as well as the edible tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke and the Chinese artichoke. A comparative account of the three plants is presented in table 1. When unspecified the term artichoke refers to globe artichoke or Cynara, a genera of the family Asteraceae that is characterized by the presence of an inflorescence or floral head. Cynara, also known as ‘thistles’ due to the presence of leaves with sharp prickly margins comprises of ten species, all thistle like perennial plants. Table 1: Chief Characteristics of the Three Artichokes Globe artichoke Jerusalem artichoke Chinese artichoke Scientific nomenclature Cynara Helianthus tuberosus L. Stachys affinis Bunge Family Asteraceae Asteraceae Labiatae (Lamiaceae) Edible part Floral bud Tuber Tuber Habitat Light, warm soil with sunny edges Rich and damp areas Wet and submersed areas Distribution Mediterranean basin Eastern North America E. Asia- China, Japan Medicinal use Anticholesterolemic, antirheumatic, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, lithonotripic Aperient. Aphrodisiac, diuretic, stimachic, tonic Anodyne II. HISTORICAL SURVEY A. Cynara Whether Cynara was known to ancient civilization cannot be ascertained. Though artichoke finds mention in ancient literatures, but the varied names used and the equally diverse descriptions have lead different researchers to interpret the ancient authors in differen t ways. While DeCandolle suggests that cultivated globe artichoke was unknown to ancient world, Foury on the basis of writings of Pliny and Columella,