Curry leaf

Introduction:

"When the clock strikes twelve @ noon there is an amazing aroma very appetizing coming from the Kitchen!! " this is the story of most of the South Indian homes. The tadka/seasoning is what creates this amazing aroma, which includes mustard seeds, and curry leaves along with asafoetida. So lets learn about the amazing health benefits of Curry leaves.

The Curry tree (Murraya koenigii) is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae (the rue family, which includes rue, citrus, and satinwood), and is native to Asia.

Its leaves are used in many dishes in the Indian subcontinent. Often used in curries, the leaves are generally called by the name "curry leaves", although they are also actually "sweet neem leaves" in most Indian languages.

The fresh leaves are valued as seasoning in the cuisines of South and Southeast Asia.[4] They are most widely used in southern and west coast Indian cooking, usually fried along with vegetable oil, mustard seeds and chopped onions in the first stage of the preparation. They are also used to make thoran, vada, rasam and kadhi. In Cambodia, the leaves are roasted and used as an ingredient in a soup, maju krueng. In Java, the leaves are often stewed to flavor gulai. Though available dried, the aroma and flavor is greatly inferior. The oil can be extracted and used to make scented soaps.
The leaves of Murraya koenigii are also used as a herb in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine in which they are believed to possess anti-disease properties but there is no high-quality clinical evidence for such effects.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CURRY LEAVES

1. Curry leaves are rich in protective plant substances, such as alkaloids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds, that give this fragrant herb potent health benefits. Research has shown that curry leaves contain many compounds, including linalool, alpha-terpinene, myrcene, mahanimbine, caryophyllene, murrayanol, and alpha-pinene.

2.  Many of these compounds function as antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants play an essential role in keeping your body healthy and free from disease.
They scavenge potentially harmful compounds known as free radicals and suppress oxidative stress, a condition that’s associated with chronic disease development.

3. Curry leaf extract has been shown to provide potent antioxidant effects in several studies. 

4. Risk factors like high cholesterol and triglyceride levels may increase your risk of developing heart disease. Adding curry leaves to your diet may help reduce some of these risk factors. 

5. Some research has shown that curry leaves may help protect the health of your nervous system, including your brain.Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease characterized by loss of neurons and signs of oxidative stress.

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6. Studies have demonstrated that curry leaves contain substances that may help protect against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. 

7. Curry leaves contain compounds that have significant anticancer effects

Beneficial for blood sugar control. Animal research has demonstrated that curry leaf extract may help reduce high blood sugar levels and protect against symptoms related to diabetes, including nerve pain and kidney damage.

8. May have pain-relieving properties. Research in rodents has shown that oral administration of curry extract significantly reduces induced pain 

How to grow curry plant:

Seeds must be ripe and fresh to plant; dried or shriveled fruits are not viable. One can plant the whole fruit, but it is best to remove the pulp before planting in potting mix that is kept moist but not wet. Stem cuttings can be also used for propagation.

Source: Internet.