Cinnamon, the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree, botanically known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is derived from Sri Lanka´s former name, Ceylon. Cinnamon is distributed in India, Egypt, China, Srilanka and Australia [9] where it has been used extensively as spices in food or to produce essential oils  [9,10]. It has two main types, Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and Chinese Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum Ness) which when dried, rolls into a tubular form known as a Cinnamon quill. Cinnamon is available in either its whole quill form (cinnamon sticks) or as ground powder [2].

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume is an important spice and aromatic crop having wide applications in flavoring, perfumery, beverages, and medicines [10]. Cinnamon is such a dietary component that has shown to have biologically active substances with insulin-mimetic properties. In vitro[5,6] and in vivo [7,8] studies have shown that Cinnamon enhances glucose uptake by activating the insulin receptor kinase activity, auto-phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and glycogen synthase activity. Image left: Cinnamon quills by Steenbergs under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

CINNAMOMUM VERUM

Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Cinnamomum
Common name: Cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, Common cinnamon, Sri Lanka cinnamon, cinnamon quills.

Sumerians, Chinese, ancient Indians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Tibetans, Slavic, Arabic and the list goes on and on naming hundreds of cultures that used garlic not only for its known culinary properties but for its health benefits and as a well-trusted universal folk remedy for the treatment of various illnesses and ailments. Some cultures still know garlic as ‘Russian penicillin’, ‘natural antibiotic’, ‘vegetable viagra’, ‘plant talisman’, ‘rustic's theriac’ and ‘snake grass’ [5,6].

In the past, garlic was used as a folk remedy during various epidemics such as typhus, dysentery, cholera, influenza, and whenever an epidemic has emerged. Garlic has been the first preventive and curative remedy [5,6]. Now, back to the subject, who didn't heard about the saying that onions and garlic collect and kill the flu (influenza) virus spread since its origins time ago in the 1919? I found it interesting enough to enter a little bit deeper and see if there were probably other reasons to believe garlic and onions really got this claimed anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. But let's see what we found about Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa), it may surprise some of us at the end. Image: Red onions & garlic by Anna Majkowska under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

ALLIUM SATIVUM

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Genus: Allium
Common name: Garlic.

In previous articles we already mentioned some herbs with anti-acne properties. Neem, Thyme, Echinacea purpurea and Rawvolfia serpentina are some of them, being Thyme known to be number one in the list as it demonstrated to be an herb better than anti-acne creams. Now we can add another anti-acne herb to that list that will surprise some of us, green tea (Camelia sinensis).

To understand better the link between acne and green tea we need to explain fist that acne vulgaris is a highly prevalent skin disorder characterized by hyperseborrhea, inflammation and Propionibacterium acnes overgrowth [22]. Acne vulgaris is the most common disease of the pilosebaceous unit [23]. So far it was believed that only isotretinoin and hormonal therapy reduce sebum production [22].

Now, a group of researchers at the Acne Research Laboratory, National University Hospital in Seoul, has demonstrated how epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has been widely investigated as an anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory agent [23], significantly improved acne in an 8-week randomized, split-face, clinical trial, and was well tolerated [22]. Image left: Tea leafs by sarahemcc under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

CAMELLIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camellia
Common name: Green tea

If you like Japanese food you may by now know what Wasabi is, or at least guess because not many people knows where this strong greenish condiment known as Wasabi comes from.

Wasabi (わさび（山葵）), originally 和佐比, Wasabia japonica or Eutrema japonica, also commonly known as Japanese horseradish, is is one of the most popular spices in many Asian countries, especially in Korea and Japan [6], a plant member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and mustard [1]. The root of Wasabia japonica is used as the source of an extremely spicy condiment used in many Japanese traditional dishes as sushi or sashimi. The name Wasabi translates from the Japanese as "mountain hollyhock" [10].

Wasabi rhizome is a very popular pungent spice in Japan, where it has been used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, through promoting blood circulation and alleviation of pain [6], and it is known that some of the active constituents found on it, namely the Isothiocyanates, exert also anti-cancer properties. Other physiological functions found in Wasabi include its use as appetite enhancer [11]. One of the facts that differences Wasabi from other Brassicaceae species is its higher concentration of Isothiocyanates (ITCs), especially long-chain ITCs [11].

Isothiocyanates are other plant extracts with flavoring properties that are arising as promising antimicrobial agents, with activities often rivaling synthetic chemicals [1]. Image left: Wasabi by Adrian8_8 under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

WASABIA JAPONICA

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Wasabia
Common name: Wasabi, Mountain hollyhock, Yunnan horseradish, Yunnan wasabi .