Dear friends, Referring 1) Wikipedia ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon, 2) NPGS / GRIN ... http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?12810, http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?103628
... the nativitity for following: East-Indian Lemon Grass (*Cymbopogon flexuosus*) ... India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia West-Indian Lemon Grass (*Cymbopogon citratus*) ... Malay archipelago Ceylon Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus) ... n-e, e, s tropical Africa, India, Sri Lanka Java Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) ... s-e Asia My queries: a) ... would like to know the grass used in tea, popularly known in Marathi as *Gavati Chah* गवती चहा. b) ... are there any more of *Cymbopogon *species that are ... native to / cultivated in ... Maharashtra state, for use in tea Regards. On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 8:01 AM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > Wonderful discussions!!! > > Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon_citratus > > *Cymbopogon citratus*, commonly known as *lemon grass* as well as *oil > grass*, is a tropical plant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant> from > Southeast > Asia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia> which is often sold in > stem form. Its leaves are used to make tea which can relieve stomach and gut > problems. It can also act as an > antidepressant<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant>and as a mood > enhancer. While it can be grown in warmer temperate regions > (such as UK) it is not hardy to frost. > > Abundant in the Philippines <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines>, > and 65- to 85-% citral <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citral>, Cymbopogon > citratus contains active ingredients like > myrcene<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrcene>, > an antibacterial and pain reliever, > citronella<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronella>, > citronellol <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronellol> and geranilol. > NGO<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGO>Alternative Indigenous Development > Foundation Inc. (Adfi) established in > Mambugsay, South of Negros <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negros> and > Escalante <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalante>, Negros > Occidental<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negros_Occidental>lemon grass > essential > oil <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil> production, via > distillery <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillery> plants which extract > the oil. Hydro steam distillation, condensation and cooling were used to > separate the oil from the water. > Hydrosol<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrosol>or Hydrolat, as a > by-product <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/By-product> of the distillation > process, is a pure natural water or plant water essence used for the > production of skin care products such as lotions, creams and facial > cleansing toner in its pure form. The main products are - organic > unadulterated lemon grass oil (for industrial users), and “Negros Oil” > (mixture of lemon grass oil with virgin coconut > oil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_coconut_oil>) > used in aromatherapy > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy>.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon_citratus#cite_note-1> > > > 2009/3/16 city farmer <[email protected]> > >> >> Dear all >> >> pl see www.natuecocityfarming.blogspot.com giving a recipe for herbal >> tea. All herbs for the herbal tea are grown organically on the >> terrace. >> >> Cheers >> Preeti >> >> >> On Mar 11, 9:02 pm, Swagat <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Hi all, >> > >> > Cymbopogum citratus called 'Gavati Chaha' गवती चहा in Marathi मराठी. >> > in Sanskrut 'Putigandha' संस्कृतमधे "पुतिगंधा" >> > in Hindi 'Gandhtrina' हिंदी- गंधत्रिणा >> > >> > Regards, >> > ~Swagat >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > >> > 2009/3/10 Yazdy Palia <[email protected]> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Hi Friends, >> > > Rashida's information is interesting. I have lemon grass growing at >> > > our place and use it for flavour along with regular tea leaves. Should >> > > try it all by itself. >> > > Regards >> > > Yazdy Palia. >> > >> > > On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 8:31 PM, rashida atthar >> > > <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > Hi friends, >> > >> > > > I would like to add a little bit of what I have experienced about >> the >> > > lemon >> > > > grass tea. There is a Yoga institute in Mumbai which conducts >> camps, day >> > > > and residential. They only serve lemon grass tea. It is brewed with >> > > boiling >> > > > water, per cup about three to four strands of lemon grass are >> required >> > > and >> > > > instead of sugar, brown jaggery is added. You can add milk or have >> it >> > > > without milk. It has a very good aroma and tastes very good too ! >> > >> > > > regards, >> > >> > > > Rashida Atthar >> > >> > > > ________________________________ >> > > > Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:39:59 +0530 >> > > > Subject: [indiantreepix:9277] Re: Fwd: Lemon Grass >> > > > From: [email protected] >> > > > To: [email protected] >> > > > CC: [email protected]; [email protected] >> > >> > > > It is so mentioned in some Indian Text Books, Apart from that Food >> and >> > > Drug >> > > > Administration (USA) certifies it as a herbal tea (decoction of >> non-tea >> > > > herbs) prescribed for stomach disorder, respiratory problems and for >> > > fever >> > > > (hence also known as Fever tea). Germans also use it for that >> purpose- >> > > one >> > > > of their" Kraeuter Tee" >> > >> > > > On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 10:37 AM, Yazdy Palia <[email protected] >> > >> > > wrote: >> > >> > > > Hi friends, >> > > > I have the same doubt as Mr. Anand Kumar Bhatt. Most Parsi houses >> use >> > > > Lemongrass and mint while brewing tea. I am yet to come across >> anybody >> > > > using it as a substitute for tea. >> > > > Regards >> > > > Yazdy Palia. >> > >> > > > On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:36 PM, Anand Kumar Bhatt >> > > > <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >> If I am not mistaken lemon grass is generally added to tea at the >> > > brewing >> > > >> stage. Can it be used as a substitute for tea as well? >> > > >> akbhatt >> > >> > > >> On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:20 PM, sibdas <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >> > > >>> Lemon grass is Cymbopogon citratus, source of an aromatic oil, >> used as >> > > >>> perfumery, cosmetics etc. Infusion of leaves used as substitute of >> Tea >> > > >>> (some more information in mail from Arun Kumar). Another >> Cymbopogon >> > > >>> sp. C. nardus is the Citronella grass, used for extraction of oil, >> for >> > > >>> perfumery, cosmetics etc. , also a mosquito repellant. Is it also >> used >> > > >>> as substitute of Tea.? >> > >> > > >>> On Mar 9, 5:43 pm, "J.M. Garg" <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >>> > Forwarding pl. >> > >> > > >>> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> > > >>> > From: Arun Kumar <[email protected]> >> > > >>> > Date: 2009/3/8 >> > > >>> > Subject: Lemon Grass >> > > >>> > To: Rawat GS <[email protected]>, Chandola S K >> > > >>> > <[email protected]>, >> > >> > > >>> > "sas. Biswas" <[email protected]>, "J.M. Garg" < >> [email protected]> >> > > >>> > Cc: DK Singh <[email protected]> >> > >> > > >>> > With best wishes and regards, >> > >> > > >>> > Dr. Arun Kumar, Ph.D., >> > > >>> > Director Research, Training & Placement, >> > > >>> > Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences, >> > > >>> > Manduwala, Dehra Dun 248 007 (Uttrakhand) >> > > >>> > 0135-2672461 (R), 09219657030 (Cell) >> > > >>> > ----- Original Message ----- *From:* cj kalra < >> [email protected]> >> > > >>> > *Sent:* Sunday, March 08, 2009 6:24 AM >> > > >>> > *Subject:* FW: Lemon Grass >> > >> > > >>> > ------------------------------ >> > >> > > >>> > *Fresh lemon grass fields in Israel become Mecca for cancer >> patients* >> > >> > > >>> > By Allison Kaplan Sommer April 02, 2006 >> > >> > > >>> > *************************************************************** >> > >> > > >>> > A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains >> enough >> > > >>> > citral >> > > >>> > to >> > > >>> > prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube. >> > >> > > >>> > Israeli researchers find way to make cancer cells self-destruct >> -Ben >> > > >>> > Gurion >> > > >>> > University >> > >> > > >>> > At first, Benny Zabidov, an Israeli agriculturalist who grows >> > > >>> > greenhouses >> > > >>> > full of lush spices on a pastoral farm in Kfar Yedidya in the >> Sharon >> > > >>> > region, >> > > >>> > couldn't understand why so many cancer patients from around the >> > > country >> > > >>> > were >> > > >>> > showing up on his doorstep asking for fresh lemon grass. It >> turned >> > > out >> > > >>> > that >> > > >>> > their doctors had sent them. 'They had been told to drink eight >> > > glasses >> > > >>> > of >> > > >>> > hot water with fresh lemon grass steeped in it on the days that >> they >> > > >>> > went >> > > >>> > for their radiation and chemotherapy treatments,' Zabidov told >> > > >>> > ISRAEL21c. >> > > >>> > 'And this is the place you go to in Israel for fresh lemon >> grass.' >> > >> > > >>> > It all began when researchers at Ben Gurion University of the >> > > >>> > Negevdiscovered last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like >> lemon >> > > >>> > grass kills >> > > >>> > cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The >> > > >>> > research >> > > >>> > team was led by Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein, >> incumbent >> > > of >> > > >>> > the >> > > >>> > Albert Katz Chair in Cell-Differentiation and Malignant >> Diseases, >> > > from >> > > >>> > the >> > > >>> > Department of Microbiology and Immunology at BGU. >> > >> > > >>> > Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and >> taste in >> > > >>> > several >> > > >>> > herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa >> > > >>> > (Melissa >> > > >>> > officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis.) >> > >> > > >>> > According to Ofir, the study found that citral causes cancer >> cells to >> > > >>> > 'commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed >> cell >> > > >>> > death.' >> > > >>> > A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains >> enough >> > > >>> > citral >> > > >>> > to >> > > >>> > prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube. >> > >> > > >>> > The BGU investigators checked the influence of the citral on >> > > cancerous >> > > >>> > cellsby adding them to both cancerous cells and normal cells >> that >> > > were >> > > >>> > grown in a >> > > >>> > petri dish. The quantity added in the concentrate was equivalent >> to >> > > the >> > > >>> > amount contained in a cup of regular tea using one gram of lemon >> > > herbs >> > > >>> > in >> > > >>> > hot water. While the citral killed the cancerous cells, the >> normal >> > > >>> > cells >> > > >>> > remained unharmed. >> > >> > > >>> > The findings were published in the scientific journal Planta >> Medica, >> > > >>> > which >> > > >>> > highlights research on alternative and herbal remedies. Shortly >> > > >>> > afterwards, >> > > >>> > the discovery was featured in the popular Israeli press. >> > >> > > >>> > Why does it work? Nobody knows for certain, but the BGU >> scientists >> > > have >> > > >>> > a >> > > >>> > theory. 'In each cell in our body, there is a genetic program >> which >> > > >>> > causes >> > > >>> > programmed cell death. When something goes wrong, the cells >> divide >> > > with >> > > >>> > no >> > > >>> > control and become cancer cells. In normal cells, when the cell >> > > >>> > discovers >> > > >>> > that the control system is not operating correctly - for >> example, >> > > when >> > > >>> > it >> > > >>> > recognizes that a cell contains faulty genetic material >> following >> > > cell >> > > >>> > division - it triggers cell death,' explains Weinstein. 'This >> > > research >> > > >>> > may >> > > >>> > explain the medical benefit of these herbs.' >> > >> > > >>> > The success of their research led them to the conclusion that >> herbs >> > > >>> > containing citral may be consumed as a preventative measure >> against >> > > >>> > certain >> > > >>> > cancerous cells. As they learned of the BGU findings in the >> press, >> > > many >> > > >>> > physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research >> > > certainly >> > > >>> > needed to be explored further, in the meantime it would be >> advisable >> > > >>> > for >> > > >>> > their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight >> their >> > > >>> > condition, to try to harness the cancer-destroying properties of >> > > >>> > citral. >> > >> > > >>> > That's why Zabidov's farm - the only major grower of fresh lemon >> > > grass >> > > >>> > in >> > > >>> > Israel - has become a pilgrimage destination for these patients. >> > > >>> > Luckily, >> > > >>> > they found themselves in sympathetic hands. Zabidov greets >> visitors >> > > >>> > with >> > > >>> > a >> > > >>> > large kettle of aromatic lemon grass tea, a plate of cookies, >> and a >> > > >>> > supportive attitude. 'My father died of cancer, and my wife's >> sister >> > > >>> > died >> > > >>> > young because of cancer,' said Zabidov. 'So I understand what >> they >> > > are >> > > >>> > dealing with. And I may not know anything about medicine, but >> I'm a >> > > >>> > good >> > > >>> > listener. And so they tell me about their expensive painful >> > > treatments >> > > >>> > and >> > > >>> > what they've been through. I would never tell them to stop being >> > > >>> > treated, >> > > >>> > but it's great that they are exploring alternatives and drinking >> the >> > > >>> > lemon >> > > >>> > grass tea as well.' >> > >> > > >>> > Zabidov knew from a young age that agriculture was his calling. >> At >> > > age >> > > >>> > 14, >> > > >>> > he enrolled in the Kfar Hayarok Agricultural high school. After >> his >> > > >>> > army >> > > >>> > service, he joined an idealistic group which headed south, in >> the >> > > Arava >> > > >>> > desert region, to found a new moshav (agricultural settlement) >> called >> > > >>> > Tsofar. 'We were very successful; we raised fruits and >> vegetables, >> > > >>> > and,' >> > > >>> > he >> > > >>> > notes with a smile, 'We raised some very nice children.' >> > >> > > >>> > On a trip to Europe in the >> > >> > ... >> > >> > read more »- Hide quoted text - >> > >> > - Show quoted text - >> For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group >> (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en >> >> >> >> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "indiantreepix" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en >> -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. 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