ROSEMARY, Systematic Position, Morphology, Uses and Side Effects.

Rosemary Introduction 

Salvia rosmarinus, commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region.

Salvia rosmarinus is now considered one of many hundreds of species in the genus Salvia.

Untill 2017, formerly it was placed in a much smaller genus Rosmarinus, which contained only two to four species including R. officinalis,  which is now considered a synonym of S. rosmarinus.

"The botanical name of this plant is compounded of two Latin words  Salvia rosmarinus  signifying (''dew of the Sea'') and indeed Rosemary thrives best by the sea."

Rosemary is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, along with many other herbs, such as oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender.

    

               Scientific classification:

Kingdom :   Plantae
Clade       :    Tracheophytes
Clade       :    Angiosperms
Clade       :    Eudicots

Syed Basharat

• ROSEMARY, Systematic Position, Morphology, Uses and Side Effects.

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Clade       :    Asterids
Order      :    Lamiales
Family    :    Lamiaceae
Genus     :     Salvia
Species   :     S. rosmarinus

                     Morphology:

• Rosemary, like other members of the mint family, has opposite leaves and “squarish” stems – but not as distinctly so as those of the genus Salvia.

 

• Rosemary grows as a small evergreen shrub with thick aromatic leaves.  Its leaves are evergreen, linear, and have smooth edges that generally tend to curl slightly under the leaf blade. 

 

• The plant has small, pale-blue flowers that bloom in late winter and early spring.  The small bluish flowers are borne in axillary clusters and are attractive to bees.

• They have Fibrous root system.

• Seeds are small nutlets and each flower can produce up to four seeds.

• In growth habit the plant can either be prostrate and sprawling or upright and shrubby, or somewhere in between.

• Rosemary is a perennial shrub (lives more than 2yrs)  and usually grows to about 1-2 metre (3.3ft - 6.6ft) in height.

The chemicals like cyclic diterpene diphenols,  carnosol,  carnosolic acid,  carnosic acid,  epirosmanol, methylcarnosate,  rosmanol, and isorosmanol have been identified in the rosemary extract.

                           USES
The herb has been hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties. Rosemary was traditionally used to help

1. Neurological protection:

Scientists have found that rosemary may also be good for your brain. Rosemary contains an ingredient called carnosic acid, which can fight off damage by free radicals in the brain.

2. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds:

Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation.

3. Cancer:

Rosemary might be useful as an ; anti-tumor agent and reduces the formation of caner causing agent that develop during cooking.

4. Protection against macular degeneration:

Carnosic acid a major component of rosemary, can significantly promote eye health.

This could have clinical applications for diseases affecting the outer retina, such as age-related macular degeneration.

5.Lowers Blood Sugar:

Carnosic acid and Rosmarinic acid (compounds of Rosemary tea)  have insulin-like effects on blood sugar.

6. Prevent brain aging:

Rosemary may prevent the negative effects of brain aging, even suggesting a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

7. Rosemary is high in Manganese, an essential nutrient for metabolic health. Manganese also helps the body to form blood clots, allowing injuries to heal faster.

8. May improve your mood and memory:

The aroma of rosemary has been linked to improving mood, clearing the mind, and relieving stress in those with chronic anxiety or stress hormone imbalances.

9.  The compounds in rosemary tea may also have antimicrobial properties, which may help fight infections.

10.  The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes, such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6.

11.  Rosmarinic acid is often used as a natural preservative to increase the shelf life of perishable foods.

12.    Rosemary is considered a cognitive stimulant and can help improve memory performance and quality. It is also known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus.

13.    The oil of rosemary has been known to promote hair growth prevent baldness, slow graying, and treat dandruff and dry scalp.

14.   Rosemary is often used for digestion problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas, liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite.

15.  The nutrients in rosemary help protect skin cells from damage often caused by the sun and free radicals.

It is typically prepared as a whole dried herb or a dried powdered extract, while teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves. A range of rosemary products is available for purchase online.

  Side effects:

Rosemary is usually safe when taken in low doses. However, extremely large doses can trigger serious side effects, although this is rare.

Side effects include:

1.  vomiting

2.  spasms

3.  coma

4.  pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)

5.  stomach and intestinal irritation and kidney damage

6.  seizures

7.  toxicity

8.  encourages menstrual bleeding

9.  may cause miscarriage