Flower Sun

Flower Sun, the Latin name Helianthus annuus L is a native plant of North America, the area around Mexico, Chile and Peru, who came from families compositeae (Asteraceae). Currently estimated there are about 67 species in this genus Helianthus.

Helianthus name is taken from the word helios meaning sun and anthos meaning flower. The most plausible reason why the sun is called flower. Because flower is always facing the direction of the sun. He moves follow the biggest light source. This phenomenon known as heliotropism.
 
In China, interest is known by the name Xiang ri kui. While in Indonesia, This Flower received many names, among five names, such as : matoari rate, pupil matoari, ledomata, Srengenge flowers, flower tampongare, Bungong matuhori, sungeng, until purbanegara.

In general, sunflower grown by many families to decorate your garden or front yard. The width yellow flowers like full sun with ornaments resembling rays around it, making this plant more suitable as a sweetener in the eye.

Herbaceous short-lived (less than a year) is growing up as high as 1 to 3 meters with fine hairs on all parts. Single heart-shaped leaves with large flowers resembling the cup. Crown-shaped flowers that blanketed the band-like plate on the edge. Right in the middle there are the small flowers are tubular and brown. And even including trunked plants wet, sunflower was actually more "comfortable" planted in the area that gets lots of sunlight.

Based on data from the Nutrition Directorate of the Ministry of Health, sunflower seeds turned out to contain a fairly complete nutrition. It contains vegetable oil with low cholesterol levels, making it suitable to be consumed those who have high blood pressure or heart abnormalities.

Sunflower seed oil quality is assessed almost on par with olive oil. He therefore widely used as a substitute for vegetable oils. And the best quality of sunflower oil is obtained from varieties of black beans with the oil content of about 50 to 60 percent.

From some of the literature is also known, nutritious sunflower seeds diuretic (peluruh urine), expectorant, and can be used to relieve fever, flu, cough, sore throat, or lung disease. According to Hartwell (1967-1971), an expert in botany and herbal medicine from the United States, flowers and sunflower seeds have long been used as traditional medicine by the citizens of Venezuela to treat cancer. Sometimes, they also mix it with wine.

Meanwhile, in the eyes of Dr. Setiawan Dalimarta, author of medicinal plants and also chairman of the Field Services and Application Development Center for Traditional Medicine (Sentra P3T) of Jakarta, all parts of the sunflower turns out to have medicinal properties. He said, "The flowers can to lower high blood pressure and reduce pain or analgesic is. For example, to reduce headache, toothache, menstrual pain, or stomach pain."

He added that the seeds could be to increase appetite, treat bloody dysentery, measles relieve pain, or enhance. From several sources, Dr. Setiawan also know that the roots useful for urinary tract infections, inflammation of the airways, whooping cough and whitish. The leaves are useful for malaria and anti-inflammatory.

In an experiment known, the marrow from stem and flower base (reseptaculum) containing hemicellulose was successfully inhibit ehrlich asitic sarcoma and carcinoma in mice. "Therefore it can also be used to treat cancer, for example kaker gastric and esophageal cancer," said Dr. Setiawan.

Sunflower seeds are one of the largest oil resources, especially oil that can be eaten. But other than that of sunflower oil are usually used as an ingredient of margarine, soaps, lubricants, lighting, and salad dressings. When mixed with linseed oil, sunflower oil is semi-finished materials usually also diajadikan as paint or varnish.

Not only that. Sunflower leaves were also commonly used to feed livestock. Medium stalks contain fiber that is often used for paper materials. Currently, also being conducted research on the possible use of sunflower oil for diesel fuel.

Dangers for Pregnant Women

With all its benefits, it turns out there are some things to consider when consuming or using sunflower oil. "The most important thing is not to be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding," Dr. message. Amarullah H. Siregar, MSc, PhD, a naturopathic and homeopathic. That's because the sunflower contained a substance called inulin that serves to expand and launch an organ or respiratory tract, so it can be harmful to the baby.

But, according to Dr. Siregar, until now he has not heard of cases of poisoning for adults who consume them. "You could say sunflower is relatively safe. Moreover, it contains many minerals, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium are beneficial for the body," he said. But, he cautioned, the use of sunflower or other traditional medicines will be more secure if consulted with a doctor or specialist

Some Sunflower Recipe:

Here are some examples of treatment with sunflower recipes gathered from various sources:

1. Headaches: flowers 25-30 grams boiled chicken with an egg (not solved) in 3 cups water to a half cup. Drink after meals, 2 times a day.

2. Inflammation of the breast (mastitis): take a few flower heads (without seeds) finely cut and dried. Once dried, roasted until charred and then milled until smooth (so flour). Take 10-15 grams, mixed with a little white wine, sugar to taste, and half a glass of warm water. Drink 3 times a day.

3. Rheumatism: boiled flower heads up to be like starch, cooled and then paste (boreh) in place of the sick.

4. It's hard to defecate and urinate: 15-30 grams of fresh root boiled in 4 cups of water until the leaves about 2 cups. Cool and strain. Drink 2 times each 1 cup.

5. Dysentery: 30 grams of beans brewed, then steamed for 1 hour. Once appointed, add rock sugar to taste and drink.

Classification of Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine is the ingredient in the form of plant material, animal material, mineral materials, preparation (galenik) or mixtures of these materials, which for generations has been used for treatment based on experience.

Natural medicines that exist in Indonesia today can be categorized into three, namely herbs, standardized herbal medicine, and fitofarmaka.
1. Jamu (empirical based herbalmedicine)

  Traditional Herbal Medicine Logo

Jamu is a traditional medicine that has traditionally provided, which contains the entire plant material into constituent herbal medicine, hygiene (contamination free) and used traditionally. Herbal medicine has been used by generations for decades, Maybe even hundreds of years, In general, This type of recipe is made with reference to the ancestral heritage. Herbal form does not require scientific evidence to clinical, but simply by empirical evidence from generation to generation.

2. Standardized Herbal Medicines (Scientific based herbal medicine)

 Standardized Herbal Medicine Logo

Traditional medicine is presented of the extract natural materials that can be medicinal plants, animals, and minerals. To carry out this process requires more complex equipment and expensive, hard work that supports the knowledge and skills of making extracts. In addition to the production process with advanced technology, this type has been supported by scientific evidence of the studies pre-clinical (animal testing) with standarized nutritious ingredients, standardized extracts of medicinal plants manufacture, standard hygienic manufacture of traditional medicines, and toxicity tests akutmaupun Chronic.

3. Phytopharmaca (basedherbal Clinical medicine)

 Phytopharmaca Logo

Phytopharmaca is a traditional medicine from natural materials that can be compared to modern medicine because the manufacturing process that has been standardized, supported by scientific evidence to clinical trials in humans with syarati lmiah meet the criteria, test protocols that have been approved, the competent executive, meets ethical principles, the execution of the test qualified. With clinical trials will further convince the medical profession to use herbal medicine in health service facilities. Communities can also be encouraged to use herbal medicine for its benefits clearly with the scientific evidence.

Benefits of Peanuts

Peanuts or the latin name called Arachis hypogea L is a type of legume species of the family Fabaceae originating from South America. Nuts themselves have a variety of types, which are consumed by the public include green beans, peanuts, red beans. Indonesian society is quite familiar with that kind of nuts contain nutrients that have good benefits for the human body.
Peanuts is a kind of tropical plants. It was tall shrub grows 30 to 50 cm and remove small leaves. Beans have long relied upon the vegetarians to replace the protein-rich meat. Peanuts is a type of bean is widely used for a variety of processed cakes, food or usefulness soup. Peanuts can destroy free radicals in the body because it also contains antioxidants. Here we will discuss more about the nutritional benefits of peanuts and those for the human body.

1. Can lower cholesterol levels
   The content of phytosterols in peanuts can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, by holding the absorption of cholesterol from foods that are circulated in the blood and reduce the re-absorption of cholesterol from the liver, and maintain HDL cholesterol.
2. Lowering the risk of cancer
   Peanuts contain phytosterol is a natural compound that can be found in high concentrations in several types of plant oils, both grains and legumes, like peanuts. Phytosterol protect against cancer in several ways, including preventing the spread and stimulate the death of tumor cells as well as change some of the hormones that are essential for the growth of tumor cells.
3. Increase endurance
   Protein content in peanuts is much higher than that of meat, eggs and soya beans. Besides, peanuts are also rich in fat, contain adequate protein, iron, vitamin E and calcium, vitamin B complex and Phosphorus, Vitamin A and K, lecithin, choline and calcium are very useful for the body. So peanuts can be said to build endurance in preventing some diseases.
4. Preventing heart disease
   Researchers have long looked at the benefits of plant sterols in preventing heart disease. Eating one ounce of peanuts five times a week can prevent heart disease are reported. There is ample evidence to show that the consumption of products containing plant sterols, such as peanuts can lower blood cholesterol by blocking cholesterol absorption in the intestine.
5. As a natural antioxidant
   Besides, peanuts also contain antioxidants that result from flavonoids, which are also contained in tea and red wine. Antioxidants can counteract free radicals that can prevent premature aging.

Avocado leaves for antihypertensive

Disease of high blood pressure became silent killer after causing disturbance of heart function, kidney, cognitive, and stroke. Azizahwati, Lecturer and also researcher from Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of Indonesia,  diversifying antihypertensive drug dosage form of herbal capsules avocado leaves.
Azizahwati presented the Final Report of Research Grants, University of Indonesia (UI) in 2010. She researched encapsuled avocado leaf extract (Persea americana Mill) with a team from the Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, UI. They are H Purwaningsih Erni, Endang Hanani, and Sutriyo. They obtained the UI research grants in 2010 amounted to Rp 164.8 million.
According to the Head of Sub-Directorate of Research and Industry Incubator Yasman UI, The UI research grants came from the Community Fund Program which is taken from the operational cost of education (BOP) submitted by each student enrolled. The year 2010, The Community Fund Program provided grants for 199 research activities.
Categories of activities include initial research, graduate, seeded, and multidisciplinary. Large fund of Rp 40 million (preliminary research) to Rp 175 million (multidisciplinary research). "The principal investigator is required from the UI," said Yasman.Yasman added, Research is undertaken largely to satisfy the curiosity of the professors or raise the Community Fund Program archers, so the percentage of research results that can be applied to society and industry is still relatively small. However, the team Azizahwati prove sufficiently applied their research to provide an alternative packaging and herbal medicinal products.
Azizahwati say, Antihiperlipidemia as antihypertensives, Avocado leaf capsules has been demonstrated as antihiperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is a condition caused by the fat content or cholesterol is too high in the blood.
For patients with hypertension and obesity is a characteristic of them. Pump power of heart and circulatory blood volume in obese patients with hypertension will be higher compared with patients who have normal weight.
For those who have hyperlipidemia, fatty diet a major cause. This was coupled with a sedentary lifestyle that triggers hyperlipidemia.
Hyperlipidemia is one of the triggers of heart attacks, that is when cholesterol in the blood that settles as a plaque on blood vessel walls to collapse and clog blood vessels. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia become the highest cause of death today.
Azizahwati said, research encapsuled avocado leaves that will be used as herbal medicinal products commensurate phytopharmaca.
Phytopharmaca be prescribed like drugs made from synthetic chemicals. Process towards phytopharmaca must pass clinical trials in humans.
Azizahwati research is still at the level of preclinical testing, ie test in mice (mice). Research results showed that ethanol extract of avocado leaves have antihiperlipidemia effect.
Mice were divided into three groups and given the leaf extract of avocado with each dose of 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg / kg), 20 mg / kg, and 40 mg / kg. Groups of mice were tested with avocado leaf extract dose of 40 mg / kg gave the best results.
Ethanol extracts of avocado leaves are also known to function as an antihypertensive in the dose of 40 mg / kg. Ability to reduce arterial blood pressure an average of male and female mice at 58 mmHg and 54.5 mmHg.
To be suffering from hyperlipidemia, induced murine yolk or other animal fat into her body. The condition of hypertension induce mice obtained by salt.
Dryers are used for avocado leaves is Avicel PH 101 with a ratio of 1:0,75 and the addition of Aerosil 8.3 percent.
The use of Avicel PH 102 is mentioned as the best formula because it has a mass density (bulk density) and the greatest flow rate. The result contains a compressibility index, water content, and destroyed most small time.
Maceration
Preparation of avocado leaf extract made by maceration with 70 percent alcohol. Maceration is the soaking to remove the active compounds in powder avocado leaves. A total of 300 grams of powder avocado leaves macerated with alcohol 70 per cent, until it reaches a yield of 29 percent.
Capsules avocado leaves become standardized herbal medicine remains to be developed into phytopharmaca. Azizahwati still requires further research with clinical trials in humans.
For ordinary people, not pictured avocado leaves can provide the benefits of lowering blood pressure and high fat content. Hypertension and high cholesterol is a threat of disease that many people whack.
Research Azizahwati is managed to open the eyes of all levels of society. Natural resources around us is quite significant in providing health benefits.

The Benefits of Avocado

Avocados are known as advocates of foreign or avocado pear, has a remarkable texture. Soft taste like nuts can give the tongue on one incredible pleasure with a soft touch like silk.
At first many experts argue that the avocado native of Central and South America. Especially when it found the report explorer Herman Cortez (1519) when it arrived in Mexico, that the Indians Aztec, Maya and Inca are very accustomed to eating avocado. But apparently avocado crop just immigrants in America. The original plant from Persia. That's why the botanical name of avocado Persea American or Persea gratissima Gaertn, which belong to the family Lauraceae.

The types of avocado
Allegedly, there are hundreds of avocado varieties cultivated species (cultivar). There is known about twenty species In Indonesia. Superior varieties and delicious avocado has the characteristics of thick fleshy fruit, soft, tender, tasty, not fibrous and does not feel bitter. Yan avocado flesh yellow and fatty commonly called avocado butter. All varitaas avocados contain nutrition and vibrant health benefits, no matter which type of butter or other types of milk (white flesh).

Fruit shape and skin color are distinguished as a kind of round green, long green (elliptical), the length of red copper, red copper round. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the delicious avocado green is a long, blunt tip shape and the base shrinking. When I was young, fresh green fruit, the more mature the color changed to red copper.

Nutrition Ingredients

Many people are still often mistaken with avocado nutritional content, because of very fatty. Avocado has high fat content among all kinds of fruits. However, total calorie is not high because of limited carbohydrates. Avocado fats including monounsaturated fat, so it will not cause weight gain.

One avocado contains 23 mg of calcium nutrients, phosphorus 95 mg, iron 1.4 mg, 9 mg sodium, potassiummm 1.368 mg, Vitamin D 660 Iu, 8.6 mg niacin and vitamin C 82 mg.

Benefits of Avocado

Avocado is the only fruit that is rich in fat. Levels is more than twice the fat content of durian. Nevertheless, the fatty avocado including healthy fats, because they mostly monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid which is a powerful antioxidant. Fat avocados help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL), thus significantly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. This capability is reinforced by the content of beta-carotene, chlorophyll, vitamin E and vitamin B complex that is widely available in the avocado.

Avocados are rich in minerals potassium, but low sodium content. This comparison make the atmosphere of alkaline in our body. The reduced acidity of the body will suppress the emergence of disease caused by the body is too acidic conditions such as allergies, dizziness, panic, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders.

Levels of folic acid and vitamin E are also high, potassium avocado is more effective in reducing hypertension and increase blood flow. Different from other fruits, avocados contain almost no starch, a little fruit contains sugar, but contains a lot of cellulose fibers. That is why the avocado is highly recommended for diabetics.

In the avocado also contains iron and copper are very important substance in red blood cell formation and prevention of nutritional anemia. Blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, potassium and manganese makes avocado good for keeping skin and hair.

Ancient times people think of avocado as a virtual food that can keep the joints moving freely. In one avocado contains 300 calories, 88 percent dikontribuso as fat. Therefore it is not surprising if an avocado is able to provide lubrication (lubrication) are naturally on the bones of the body such as the neck joints, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles.

Consumption of avocados

Utilization of avocado is still limited to juice or a mixture of ice stoned. Though avocado can be used for healthy meals everyday. Avocado can be used as a mixed salad and a dip dab-called Mexican-style guacamole by mixing avocado with agram, chili, or pepper powder, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, celery.

Juices can be combined with avocado and tomatoes make a little garlic. At the time of manufacture choose the fruit juice that has been ripe avocado, make sure you do not cut the meat. Keep the outer membrane under the skin, because this part is storing all the excess minerals avocado.