It contains information regarding five medicinal plants - Aloe vera, Cranberry, Clove, Lavender, Turmeric. Their Binomial classification, introduction and their uses.

1. © Aishwarya Mehta & Arundhati Mehta 2016

2. • They are abundant in India.
• They can be easily cultivated in the backyard, in pots, on
farms, and in the fields.
• They abound in mountains and forests .
• They are less expensive than the medicines found in
drugstores.
• The proper and safe use of medicinal plants will help the
government to reduce importation of expensive drugs.

3. • Aloe Vera
• Cranberry
• Clove
• Lavender
• Turmeric

5. `
• Binomial Name : Aloe Vera
• Kingdom : Plantae
• Family : Xanthorrhoeaceae
• Genus : Aloe
• Species : A. vera
Aloe vera is a stem less or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing
to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are
thick and fleshy, green to grey-green. The species is frequently cited as
being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century AD.
Extracts from Aloe Vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative
medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating,
healing, or soothing properties.

6. • Aloe vera is good for irritated or inflamed skin.
• Aloe vera helps in speeding up the process of healing
of burns and other wounds.
• Aloe vera is good for hydrating, rejuvenating and
toning for the skin.
• Aloe vera is used on facial tissues where it is
promoted as a moisturiser and anti-irritant to reduce
chafing of the nose.
• Cosmetic companies commonly add sap or other
derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as
makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens,
incense, shaving cream, or shampoos.
• The species is used widely in the traditional herbal
medicine of many countries. Aloe vera,
called kathalai in Ayurvedic medicine, is used as a
multipurpose skin treatment.

8. Binomial name : Vaccinium Oxycoccos
Kingdom : Plantae
Order : Ericaceles
Family : Ericaceae
Genus : Vaccinium
Species : V.oxycoccos
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in
the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. Cranberries are low,
creeping shrubs they have slender, wiry stems that are not thickly woody and
have small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very
distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamen fully exposed and
pointing forward. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has been used as
both food and medicine for centuries. It is native to North America and was
used by Native Americans to treat bladder and kidney diseases.

9. Cranberry prevents the bacteria Helicobacter pylori from attaching to stomach walls. H.
pylori can cause stomach ulcers, so cranberries may play a role in the preventing stomach
ulcers. Cranberry fruit is high in antioxidants, partly from substances called
proanthocyanidins, which give cranberries their vibrant color. Antioxidants neutralize
particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage DNA and are throught to
contribute to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions.
Cranberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, another important antioxidant.
Scientists are researching to see if the antioxidants in cranberries will help protect against
heart disease and cancer. Cranberry is best known for preventing urinary tract infections
(UTIs), commonly caused by bacteria known as Escherichia coli (E. coli). cranberry worked
by making urine acidic enough to kill the bacteria. cranberry may prevent bacteria from
attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.

11.  Binomial Name: Syzygium aromaticum
 Order : Myrtales
 Family: Myrtaceae
 Genus: Syzygium
 Species: S. aromaticum
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the
family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to
the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, and are commonly used as
a spice.
The clove tree is an evergreen that grows up to 8–12 m tall, with
large leaves and sanguine flowers grouped in terminal clusters.
The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn green,
then transition to a bright red when ready for harvest. Cloves
are harvested at 1.5–2.0 cm long, and consist of a long calyx that
terminates in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals
that form a small central ball.

12. Cloves are used in the cuisine of Asian, African, and the Near and Middle
East, lending flavour to meats, curries, and marinades, as well as
complement to fruit such as apples, pears, or rhubarb.
Other uses of Clove are to :
• Temporarily treat a toothache.
• Relieve upper respiratory infections.
• Reduce inflammation.
• Treat scrapes and bruises.
• Improve digestion
• Boost insulin function in the body.
• Clove oil is used in preparation of some toothpastes, laxative pills, and
Clovacaine solution, which is a local aesthetic used in oral ulceration
and inflammation.

14. Binomial name : Lavandula spica
Kingdom : Plantae
Order : Lamiales
Family : Lamiaceae
Genus : Lavandula
Species : L. spica
Lavander is a genus of 39 known species of flowering plants in the
mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found from Cape
Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and eastern
Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia to southeast India. Many members of the
genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as ornamental plants for
garden and landscape use, for use as culinary herbs, and also commercially for the
extraction of essential oils. Commonly used to soothe insect bites, burns, and
headaches.

15. The essential oil was used in hospitals during World War
I. Lavender is used extensively with herbs such
as chamomile and aromatherapy. Infusions are believed
to soothe insect bites, burns, and headaches. Bunches of
lavender repel insects.
In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and
relaxation.An infusion of flowerheads added to a cup of
boiling water is used to soothe and relax at
bedtime. Lavender oil (or extract of lavender) is used to
treat acne when diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater,
or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory
conditions.

17. Binomial name : Curcuma longa
Kingdom : Plantae
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Zingiberaceae
Genus : Curcuma
Species : C. longa
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger
family, Zingiberaceae. It is native in southeast India. Turmeric is ground into a deep
orange-yellow powder commonly used as a spice in Indian cuisine and even curries,
for dyeing, and to impart colour to mustard condiments. One active ingredient in it
is curcumin. It has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavour and a
mustardy smell. Curcumin may treat: cancer, Alzheimer's
disease, diabetes, allergies, arthritis and other chronic illnesses.

18. Turmeric grows wild in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. It is one of
the key ingredients in many Asian dishes. Its use as a colouring agent is
not of primary value in South Asian cuisine.
In Tamil Nadu, turmeric has been used traditionally for thousands of
years as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as topically to
heal sores, basically for its supposed antimicrobial property. turmeric was
a medicine for a range of diseases and conditions, including those of the
skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds,
sprains, and liver disorders. A fresh juice is commonly used in many skin
conditions, including eczema, chicken pox, shingles, allergy, and scabies
The active compound curcumin is believed to have a wide range of
biological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti tumour,
antibacterial, and antiviral activities, which indicate potential in clinical
medicine. In Chinese medicine, it is used for treatment of various
infections and as an antiseptic.