Phytochemicals from herbs, fruits and vegetables have been the source of multiple active molecules used in medicines by the medical and pharmaceutical industry under fancy and very suggestive commercial names. The medical industry realized many years ago that what it would take them ages to find nature had already found it. Think for example about how long did nature took to discover propolis, a natural antibiotic and antibacterial product with which bees sealed the beehive to protect it from external bacterial infections managing to keep beehives sterile and clean.

Or how for example, some Ginkgo biloba trees managed to survive more than 2500 years!, or for example Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in many herbs and fruits, as Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) used primarily in research as a protein kinase inhibitor that may suppress tumor promotion and that has anti-proliferating effects, or epigallocatechin gallate (from green tea leaves), delphinidin (a primary plant pigment responsible for the red grape color) and genistein (an isoflavone from soybeans) all associated with a lower incidence and risk of cancer [15], all that without even mention Resveratrol from red wine, able to stop breast cancer cell growth in mouse and has cardioprotective, neuroprotective and a natural anti-aging properties [16], and these are only a few examples.

THAPSIA GARGANICA

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Thapsia
Common name: Deadly carrot.

It was always said that alcohol, taken with moderation, was not so dangerous as we used to believe, indeed moderate red wine consumption has many benefits. Some of these benefits exerted by red wine were mainly due to one of the active constituents found in red grapes, namely Resveratrol.

A recent study on the subject confirms that  Resveratrol, a non-flavonoid polyphenol [5] from red grapes is able to stop breast cancer cells growth.

VITIS VINIFERA

Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Vitis
Common name: Common grape vine

Acne, a skin disorder of pilosebaceous units very common among young teenagers is number one.

There are many factors influencing the incidence of acne, some of them are hormonal and some of them diet driven, as the intake of cow's milk, a factor that increases the prevalence and severity of acne [4]. Image: Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) by Evelyn Avila's photos under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

GARCINIA MANGOSTANA 

Family: Clusiaceae
Genus: Garcinia
Common name: Purple mangosteen.

Alcohol consumed with moderation is certainly not bad, on the contrary, we have already learned by now the benefits of red wine, able to lower the risk of heart attacks, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes when consumed in moderation, most probably due to the effects of some of the active constituents found on it as resveratrol and melatonin [2].

But having said so we also have to pay attention to alcohol abuse, which may be exponentially more detrimental for your health than the benefits of its moderate consumption.