CURRY LEAF

 CURRY LEAF

CURRY LEAF [KARI VEPPILAI] [Kan: kari soppu ][ Hindi:kadi patttha]

Botanically named Murraya koenigii, in honour of Jonathan Gerhard Konig, who for a long times in India and is among celebrities in the field. The plant can be a big shrub with leaves resembling those of Margosa [Neem] hence veppilai and ‘kari’ refers to its utility in culinary additives.

Besides its value in cooking, the curry leaf offers abundant medicinal benefits to humans.

The rich and inimitable aroma of the stuff is from the glycosides, Phenolics and Alkaloids that abound the leaves. In view of a range of such components these leaves are able to deliver ‘anti-oxidants’ that neutralize wasteful oxidations within by scavenging potent oxidants that promote cellular level disorders.

Startling revelations from animal studies indicate that the leaf extract helps to suppress disorders in Kidney, heart and brain.

The leaf extracts are rich in ‘Mahanimbine’ that ably handles lipid[fat] related problems and helps elimination of fat-related disorders.

Potent anti-ALZHEIMER’S activity of curry leaves is ascribed to specific substances like Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione reductase and Superoxide dismutase in them.

Memory functions in animal systems are also said to get stabilized by a steady use of these leaves by restricting the steps leading to ‘dementia’.

Laboratory experiments have shown ‘anti-cancer activity’ of curry leaf extracts in cancer cells of cervix and breast in humans.

The alkaloid ‘Grinimbine’ OF CURRY LEAVES is said to inhibit colon cancer in laboratory studies

Anti bacterial activity of these leaves in handling Corynebacterium and Streptococcus is known.

From now on at least do not use them the ‘proverbial way’ by throwing them off; instead chew them well keeping in mind the range of benefits that can accrue from  appropriate use of curry leaf.  

Prof.  K. Raman

THE TUIRKEY BERRY

 THE TUIRKEY BERRY

The item goes by a variety of  names –Devil’s fig, Pea Eggplant plate brush, or Susumber [susumba]- a bushy shrub growing to about 7 feet or more bearing many  clusters  of  green, round berries –The Sundaikkaai [சுண்டைக்காய்]a name  which breaks ground from the less known names.[ Kannada= sundakkayi, Telugu-Kothuvashu, Hindi= Bhankatiya] The plant is a native of Florida, Alabama, South America and South Asia.

The seemingly insignificant tiny globose berries offer a range of health benefits to humans. Indeed its medicinal value is wide-ranging from setting right intestinal/ abdominal disorders, heart conditions and Diabetes.

Berries taste like Iron, as these fruits are rich in Iron. The less shiny varieties are used as vegetable and cooked in different ways for use as curry. Highly shiny green fruits are used for ‘dry pickle’ and could be roasted for making it edible and to escape its bitter taste.

VALUE TO HUMANS

Turkey berry has a chemistry rich in pharmacologically active compounds such as Sapogenin and Chlorogenin.

Water-extracts of Turkey berry can kill mice by weakening the blood constitution of them.

Fruit extracts of Solanum torvum  reveal Methyl caffeate activity lowering the diabetic characteristics in Rats.

Several disorders like pimples, skin disorders, Leprosy , cold , cough and hyperactivity in humans can be controlled by Turkey berry.

Other values include elevating the immunity. Can regulate Anaemia, Fever .

The berries help to promote kidney functions;  Manages Diabetes and heart activity.

The berries show insecticidal and repellent activity especially against some coleopteran  insects in grain storing facilities.

Anti-microbial activity against Staphylococci is shown by extracts from Solanum torvum leaves.

Thus, several benefits are known for Solanum torvum or Turkey berry

Prof. K. Raman

SOME MORE ‘UNUSUAL’ EXPRESSIONS

 SOME MORE ‘UNUSUAL’ EXPRESSIONS

PANDICULATION  [noun]

Pandiculation refers to a common act, though the term is not so common and not frequently employed in speech. The routine practice [habit] of physically stretching all limbs and torso as one wakes up from sleep. Generally it is accompanied by yawning.  Several animals also do it. For instance, Dogs, Cows and other animals simply stretch their physical structure and get back to normal in ;less than a minute or so. Pandiculation is said to activate muscles and certain brain functions related to muscular activity.

BUMBERSHOOT [noun]

Bumbershoot –if we get to know the meaning we would feel ‘dwarfed’. Yes, it is an expression for ‘Umbrella’.  The second part ‘shoot’ appears to be the revised spelling of ‘chute’ as in Parachute. Like the opening of the parachute dome, umbrella too opens up the ribbed fabric dome to offer a shield from Sun and rain. Like the parachute –an emergency appliance, the Blumbershoot is also brought out from its ‘hideout’ and again put back ‘folded –up’.

WIDDERSHINS [adverb]

The term Widdershins, though less common in our times, had earlier been   a common term in English writings. The term also connotes different but somewhat ‘related’ meanings. Good old usage of the term meant ‘moving in the wrong way’ or in the ‘opposite direction’. More recent usages of the term signify ‘counter- clockwise’ or ‘Anti-clockwise’ [which implies the opposite of ‘clockwise’].In any case the term is unusual in our times.

TARADIDDLE [Also spelt TARRADIDDLE] [noun].

The term seems to be from 18^th century. In British usage, it means a ‘pretty lie’. It also means ‘Pretentious Nonsense’. A small lie is called ‘tarradiddle’.

SNICKERSNEE [Noun]

The term refers to the ‘knife for cutting or thrusting. The term also means ‘to fight with knife’. It also applies to ‘large knife’.                                     Prof .  K. Raman

 

PLANTS AND TASTE

PLANTS AND TASTE

It is well known that everyone recognizes well known flowers/ fruits or condiments by their aroma and taste. What does it mean in the real sense? No matter where one comes across these items, they obey a typical fidelity of colour, fragrance and taste. What is the underlying fact behind this ‘predictable feature’ in each plant species? Occasionally some hybrids may get to have ‘overlap’ of features interchanged between the members hybridized. Otherwise, by and large all plants steadfastly repeat the qualities suggested. Some details need being understood. 

For something to sustain –fragrance, taste and feel say –fleshy or fibrous is possible only by a precise structural / chemical constitution, so as to be repetitive irrespective of where the plant grows. However with in a broad category there are varieties, as in mango. Each variety repeats its taste texture and aroma typical of it because the chemical assembly is exactly the same all over in all its members.. It further means that –in any soil, a specific plant variety ‘harvests’ the same chemical moieties in same quantity from  everywhere of its existence.  This also indicates a high ‘selection’ capability of the plant.

When something is selected it also means that several other items may be either not selected or selected in specific quantities. Such a selection is largely IN THE INNER CELLS OF the root  which function as ‘selectors’. Roots of the plant species explore the soil for its mineral content and ‘pick up’ all including what is needed..  A few items may be left untouched if they are of no metabolic significance for that plant.  Does it mean that plant roots pick out ion by ion? No, the uptake is through watery medium or in a solution state in which ions are in the soil solution. When the soil solution is drawn in at select spots within the root cells, only ‘relevant ions’ are taken in [absorbed]. These are delivered to specific sites where they are deposited or ‘anchored’ to specific membranes before added to the chemical matrix during development of flowers or fruits.  Each of these steps is a highly precise action with no random chance. What triggers the most appropriate assembling of items is not ‘all-too-easy’ to explain. Again I reiterate ‘PLANTS ARE SILENT FACTORIES, with no wage disputes or protests of any kind.

Prof. K. Raman

WASHING SOAP

 WASHING SOAP

If our times have witnessed an expansion in variety form and shape, easily washing soaps deserve being recalled. Times were when we had known only one kind, the yellow medium slab called the Sunlight.  That was the lone brand across India in cities and towns till late 1960s and beyond. Abruptly a new product named RINSO  stormed the market. Its format was quite new to Indian households in that it was in tiny flakes –a revolution from the rubbing version the soap cake. Later a competitor to RINSO was POINT another flake format. These were attractive to use as they would readily dissolve and enough to soak the linen for sometime before washing. Women felt relieved from the laborious act of individual attention to clothes. I am recalling the manual washing schedules as washing machines were then mere ‘hearsay’ items..For several years it was the situation in India. BY 1969 or so M/S TATA introduced a blue coloured detergent cake ‘BONUS’. This brand easily swept the market by its lavish lather and detergent action in cleaning dirt from fabric. Practically for about a year or more ‘BONUS’ kept most other brands at bay; however Hindustan Lever sprang a surprise by their version of detergent –RIN. Over a short time since introduction RIN  turned the most popular and keeps going still after nearly half- a century; Not that there have not been other brands; there have been some like SURF . Both RIN and SURF always have had powder versions too as by late 1970s and after more households installed washing machines as domestic gadgets as the item was recognized a necessity from its earlier status of a luxury.  Friends, so far we have just been recalling names of national brands on the trade.  It does not mean that there were no regional or local brands. There have always been a host of them ranging in names from that of an animal or bird or beetle to that of the ultimate –the Lord. This part of the information would be far more challenging to recall a host of names most of them confined to districts, yet had a glorious market due to their affordability to the  then poor Indian public who made use of local rivers for bathing and washing. Despite their low-cost, those soaps used to give off rich lather ideal to convince the consumer. Those days, the most common material was cotton widely used by men and women. Those materials should be washed well to maintain optimum quality. But, politicians of different hues used to use more of cotton material as a  mere sign of supporting  the weaver populations,/ as an apparent expression of austerity. As mentioned earlier , local brands did have a patronage. Let us recall them . When we were in our school days local versions of washing soaps were dispensed aslengthy bars measuring a foot and a half or more with short segments marked by ruling at distances of about 2+ inches. Buyers could have the whole bar or segments thereof.  The shopkeepers seldom used knives to cut the segments. Using a slender jute thread held taut around the right segment length would pull the thread ends from a side. The thread pulled so would simply cut through the soap shearing it at the right length.  These brands were either CAMEL or SIVAN. They too had two versions- the traditional whitish gold or a Violet one. To me its tint was more violent than any violet. The violet was so user-friendly that it would cling onto any surface be it your palm or dress or the rough stone at the river edge where dirty linen is washed by physical abrasion on to the rock. Similar versions of Madurai were marketed by CHELLAM soap company,  had a mega presence in the district. To keep the cotton fabric, presentably neat , a final soak in blue tint was done using a powder of that colour. In local par lance, it was KURUVI neelam.

Its brand name was Ultra marine Robin blue with the bird as the brand mark. Later, ever so many names have sprung up albeit their local presence. Some of them are ‘Pon vandu’, Discound , Powerlite, and several fake ones bearing the names of popular brands.. Incidentally washing soda has disappeared from the market having been replaced by some bleaching liquids marketed on brand names. The washing powder range for washing machines is far beyond the limited comprehension of the author.                       Prof. K. Raman

 

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Eyebrows may arch up in delight or despair as to why this item here. Having been meandering through a variety of topics for blog readers, why not on this –more as an appraisal than as any display of professional command has been my thought for a few hours now.

While, we keep moving through our towns or cities, we passively notice many trees or gardens in our vicinity. Just by long term familiarity we recognize a few trees distinctly such as Coconut or Neem or Banana and a few others. For most other items we do not even know their names or identities; of course there could be always a few exceptions. That being our disposition to plant life, it is far-fetched to expect the average citizen to know of the functioning [Physiology] of trees / plants in general.

It would be quite a surprise if we understand that each plant is a silent factory handling a variety of substances from the soil/ air / rain water and building up matter that makes our life pleasant on the planet. Each green plant big or small generates tons of Oxygen in its life time by scavenging carbon-dioxide from the air.

Why should a green plant be releasing Oxygen by removing carbon-dioxide? It is nature’s arrangement in which all animals and non-green life forms can only use oxygen; they cannot release oxygen. Using the oxygen of the atmosphere all life forms [green plants too included] perform the act of ‘breathing’ [Respiration]. Unless they breathe they cannot digest the food consumed. When the food is ‘digested’ tissues are added, all growth substances are utilized and some residues are left as waste. The gaseous waste is carbon-dioxide. The oxygen –carbon-dioxide cycles which occur  through all life [plants and animals] is the key to  life itself. For living, all need oxygen to digest food; and so, they liberate carbon-dioxide as a waste. The carbon –dioxide released from living systems should be harvested; otherwise, the carbon load will upset the breathing process. The carbon-dioxide removal from the air is done by green plants during day time. At night they do not take carbon-dioxide [there are exceptions-no doubt]; this is because, the carbon so taken must be ‘assembled’ to form carbohydrate [the staple food as Rice/ Wheat/ grains]. In doing so, the green plants release Oxygen by removing carbon from air. This event is ‘Photosynthesis’ –as it utilizes the energy of sunlight to fix carbon into carbohydrate. Within the green plants, photosynthesis is linked to many other internal reactions forming proteins, fats and so on, all of which are used as food for humans and fodder for animals. In a nutshell, the entire operations of Agriculture, serve only to help life of humans and all animals domesticated.

If we imagine a world bereft of green plants, human and other forms of life to stay on the planet, a vast complex of global network of factories for food production, oxygen release and carbon-dioxide removal from air would have to work round the clock,  at a recurring cost of several trillion dollars annually. Then life would not be worth living, paying several million dollars for breathing and eating. That is why advocacy of green plant cover for the earth is an absolute necessity. Green plants are SILENT FACTORIES, mercilessly felled by greed of humans. That in brief is the vital physiology of plant life.

Prof. K. Raman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASS and DONKEY

 ASS and DONKEY

As and when convenient we use the term Ass or Donkey as the case may be. In either case the animal is the same. Then why we call something Ass or Donkey? Ironically, we castigate someone as Ass or Donkey merely to show our displeasure about the person or his styles of functioning. To be called an Ass or Donkey is insulting to the person while the animal in this name roams about as the happiest one. If only the animal gets to know with whom we equate its name, it may too feel insulted; till then it stays insulated. All attempts to delineate the two names to distinguish the animal as ASS or DONKEY remain futile; yes, the dictionary states that the two are synonymous and that Ass is an old term. It doesn’t anyway mean that a Donkey is more modern an animal than the Ass. Only the name is old for the Ass and the name Donkey is less old. I too have observed that old timers used to liberally use the term ‘Ass’ than the other option. That way Ass seems to enjoy preference over its later name. In fact in the British parliament once a member was called an ‘Ass’ AND THE OBSERVER was forced to tender an apology. The person elegantly apologized telling” I said the honourable member is an Ass and I feel sorry for it”. Apparently, it is an apology; but is more a reiteration, if one carefully observes the phraseology.

Leaving aside such animals and utterances, we have enough to understand of the quality of the animal.

Asses roam in the hot Sun –no matter how harsh the summer is. While Horses and Asses are domesticated, their cousin ZEBRA is not easy to handle and so hard to domesticate. Relative size of the donkey stands the animal in advantage, lest  humans should have readily tagged it to a cart for ferrying men and material. Why I feel so? Donkey is an inexpensive animal demanding no food or rest from the master. You may be surprised to learn that –beyond certain volume of work/ time, horses may refuse to work and may even destabilize the cart and its contents including all passengers; once it turns reluctant it will refuse to work, unless the animal is used to work at those hours. A cart-tied Horse may simply raise its forelegs menacingly high, tilting the cart to a steep incline to discard all men and material inside like a pack of cards. Any attempt to punish the horse would cause even harsher responses including ‘biting’ the men around. Horse is both intelligent and harsh;  can read too much and can violently react. That is why humans Shield the animal’s lateral vision by a bridle and permit only the view of the immediate few feet ahead for the animal to see and run. Seeing certain specific landmarks, the animal knows the vicinity of its home and can simply drag the cart homeward with all the commuters. Horse owners know this too well and take the cart through some other path to safely off-load the commuters. As a young boy of of 10-12 years, I have learnt of these horse habits from a horse trainer cum master who had his horse-cart for livelihood.

Let us recall how RK. Narayan –the famous author has critically reviewed Donkey’s activity pattern. He says “Donkey identifies the abandoned old homes of poor people and stands parallel to the mud wall in the mid noon, sheepishly watching his own shadow with neck lowered to the floor. Even if two of them stand they stand parallel but facing opposite directions”. [An observation par excellence –I should endorse]. When, these donkeys leave the place or what do they eat are items requiring keener study. They may drag posters stuck to walls and devour them. They avoid turbid waters to drink and prefer clear water for drinking.

Among the domesticated animals Donkeys are let free and never fettered; at best the fore-legs are tied together to contain the animal from running. If disturbed, donkeys can run quite fast even as they bray in delight or despair. Despite freedom to move off they faithfully visit the master’s place by the morning to carry the day’s linen for washing heaped in bundles on their backs and wait at that spot where the master /mistress wash these clothes. They don’t rid themselves of these bundles, till the master does it. The donkey is a very loyal animal with no demand for wages, food or leave; but a very obedient creature. Yet, anger in people tempts them to call anyone a donkey, though the animal is not guilty of any misdeed. Thankless are the humans and shamelessly so.

Prof. K.Raman