On the basis of morphology Chenopodium quinoa of the Andes and C. nuttalliae of Mexico appear to be very closely related species. Artificial hybrids have been secured between the two. It is suggested that both species may have been derived from the same original wild type. A weedy quinoa, C. quinoa var. melanospermum, is known from South America, but as yet a weed race closely related to C. nutalliae has not been reported from Mexico.
Sprouts are a low-cost fresh vegetable that can be grown indoors in any season and can contribute many nutrients to the diet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sprouting on nutrimental composition and total saponin content of huauzontle (Chenopodium nuttalliae Saff.), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and amaranth (Amaranthus leucocarpus S. Watson syn. hypochondriacus L.) sprouts. A proximal analysis and quantification of saponins were performed in seeds and sprouts from the four species.
The consumption of vegetables in Mexico includes a wide variety of plants that grow naturally as weeds in the fields. The intake of these vegetables is very important in the Mexican diet because these plants supply an important input of nutrients and compounds such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Thus, the plants may be universally promoted as healthy. However, there is little information about these vegetables of popular consumption, especially in terms of the nutritional changes caused by boiling.
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) constitutes thorny nitrogen fixing deciduous shrub. Sea buckthorn(SBT) is primarily valued for its very rich vitamins A, B1 , B 12 , C, E, K, and P; flavonoids, lycopene, carotenoids, and phytosterols. and therapeutically important since it is rich with potent antioxidants. Scientifically evaluated pharmacological actions of SBT are like inflammation inhibited by reduced permeability, loss of follicular aggregation of lymphocytes from the inflamed synovium and suppress lymphocyte proliferation.
Global environmental change is rapidly altering the dynamics of terrestrial vegetation with consequences for the functioning of the Earth system and provision of ecosystem services 1,2 . Yet how global vegetation is responding to the changing environment is not well established. Here we use 3 long-term satellite leaf area index (LAI) records and 10 global ecosystem models to investigate four key drivers of LAI trends during 1982-2009.
From luxury spice to medical cure-all, silphium was a product coveted throughout the ancient world and occupied an essential place in the export economy of ancient Cyrene. The mysterious extinction of the silphium plant in the 1st century CE leaves us with little evidence as to the exact nature of this important agricultural product. In this paper, an historical background on the kingdom of Cyrene is provided, evidence for the nature of the silphium plant is reviewed, how and why it was consumed and traded is discussed.