Potential Health Benefits of Herbs & Spices

Potential Herbs for Enhancing the Health Attributes of Dairy products

Prof. A. Poshadri ,M.Tech (Food Tech)Assistant Professor

College of Food Science & TechnologyAcharya N.G.Ranga Agriculture University

Pulivendula, YSR Dist, A.P

Introduction

Herbs

• Primarily vegetative plant parts used for medicinal, aromatic, or savory purposes

• Generally more subtle in flavor

Chemistry of Herbal Flavor• Flavor incorporates both aroma and taste.

• Aromatic components must be volatile and capable of being perceived by humans’ olfactory senses.

• Taste components must be at least partially soluble in water, and capable of stimulating humans’ taste buds.

• Combination of senses required for full savory experience.

Chemical Compounds of Herbs

• “Essential Oils” – Often are complex mixtures of terpenes, and other terpenoid compounds.

- Some are volatile and vaporize quickly.- Others remain as liquid oils and are perceived through

both smell and taste senses.- These account for most ‘aromatic’ properties.

• Esters – “fruity” aromas, often associated with ripening.

• Amides - Nitrogen containing compounds, e.g. capsaicin.

• Vitamins - Typically vitamins A, B-complex, and C.

Herbs in Food & Dairy Products• Primarily from the Mediterranean region, Africa and Asia• In almost all cases, leaves are the preferred plant part used.• Most species used for herbs have oil glands or secretory

trichomes (epidermal hairs).• Contains a diverse array of terpenes in the essential oil

component of the plant’s secondary metabolites.- Peppermint – Mentha piperita- Spearmint – Mentha spicata- Basil – Ocimum basilicum- Marjoram – Origanum majorana - Oregano – Origanum vulgare- Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis- Thyme – Thymus vulgaris- Sage – Salvia officinalis- Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia

Plant Terpenes

Vanillin

Health Benefits of Herbs • Antioxidant• Bactericidal, Virucidal & Fungicidal• Antiparasitical• Antimutagenic• Insecticidal• An appetite stimulant, • Anticolic• Antitussive and immunostimulant• Pharmaceutical• Sanitary• Cosmetic, agricultural and food industries

Basil

Vanilla

Saffron

Bee balmMonarda fistulosa

• Kick a cold• Breathe easy• Help control oily skin• Cook with a taste of

native America

BorageBorago officinalis

• The hero’s herb• Help heal the heart• Squelch stubborn skin

inflammations– eczema

• Create stellar salads

Alliums (Lily family)(onion group)

• Onion- A. cepa• Garlic- A. sativum• Leeks- A. porrum• Shallots- A. ascalonicum• Chives- A. schoenprasum

• Most rich in volatile sulfur-containing compounds

• Culinary & medicinal uses• Among oldest cultivated plants

Chives

• Onion benefits without tears

• Help lower blood cholesterol levels

• Help reduce blood pressure

• Help prevent certain types of cancer

“purple cone flower”Echinacea purpurea

• Fight off colds and flu• Heal minor cuts &

scratches• Give your immune system

a shot in the arm• Compound echinsin,

shown to be antiviral that behaves similarly to interferon

• Echinacoside has antibiotic properties

English lavender(L. officinalis or L. vera)

• Create an herbal antiseptic

• Relax and rejuvenate mind and body

• Help normalize oily skin

Horseradish(Amoracia rusticana; Brassica Family)

• Prized for its medicinal and gastronomic qualities for centuries.

• Same volatile oil as mustardDid you know that . . . • Horseradish is still planted and

harvested mostly by hand? • Horseradish is added to some pickles to

add firmness and "nip"? • Horseradish has only 2 calories a

teaspoon, is low in sodium and provides dietary fiber?

• Researchers at M.I.T. claim that the enzyme "horseradish peroxidase" removes a number of pollutants from waste water?

• Germans still brew horseradish schnapps . . . . some also add it to their beer?

St John’s wortHypericum perforatum

• Relieve aches & pains– arthritis, rheumatism,

sciatica• Find herbal help for

depression• Have soft silky hair• Red color of oil from

hypericin

SpeedwellVeronica arvenis

• Calm a cough– Leptandrine, acts as

expectorant– Mix with Chinese

licorice root to balance bitter flavor

• Soften tough calluses

TarragonArtemisia dracunculus

• Give high blood pressure the boot

• Discover possible link in cancer prevention– Compound = rutin

YarrowAchillea millefollium

• Famous fever fighter• Help heal cuts &

scratches• Smooth stressed skin• Stimulate the compost

heap

Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

• Native to Mediterranean region• Includes thyme, sages,

marjoram, oregano, rosemary, savory, hyssops, basil, the various mints, catnip, and horehound.

• Common garden mint is spearmint, not peppermint .

• Square stems & aromatic simple leaves with oil glands.

PeppermintMentha piperita

• Soothe your stomach• Refresh itchy skin• Cool spicy foods• Active ingredient:

menthol

Lemon balmMelissa officinalis

• Help relieve high blood pressure

• Digestive aid– Volatile oil, eugenol,

which calms the gastrointestinal tract

• Add a lemon lift to foods

RosemaryRosemary officinalis

• De-stress the stomach– rosmaricine

• Help heal a headache• Have shiny hair

– Use as hair rinse

SageSalvia officinalis

• Sore gum soother• Subdue a sore throat• Refresh skin after

shaving• Boost flavor of low-fat

foods• Camphor & other

volatile oils

Functional Herbal Dairy Products

• Provide health benefits beyond nutrition

• Phytochemicals of herbs: – Antioxidants

• Neutralize free radicals• Reduce heart disease,

cancer risk

Research Approach

• Use high pressure and supercritical carbon dioxide for isolation of herbal components

• Add as an important basic ingredient in milk products

• To produce enriched fractions of the herbal extracts in milk & whey based products

• Use herbs as a Flavouring compound in fermented milk and milk products

• Use as Taste enhancer in milk based beverages

Potential Products

• Increased utilization of milk and whey by creation of new milk based herbal products

• New technologies for herbal ingredient s utilization

• Increased utilization of milk and milk products in Ayurvedic and cosmetics products