Chapter 2: Basic and Advanced Research in Common Oil-Containing Herbs and Their Use in Modern Supplementary Diets

Abstract

Garden herbs have medicinal value and were used traditionally to promote well-being. It also means that herbs were in fact constituents of native diets. However, modern societies have neglected the benefits of herbs and rely on other food sources for nutrition. This study has examined a total of eight herbs; Amomum subulatum, Calendula officinalis, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Eryngium foetidum, Lantana indica,Ocimum bacilicum, Ocimum gratissimum and Salvia mirzayanii from a vast collection of 19 published works by using systematic review. The findings inform that herbs could be prepared in both, dry-form and extracts before being used in various applications. However, it was the essential oils of these herbs that divided them into categories such as safe for consumption and safe for industrial applications. The compounds of these essential oils were later evaluated for either medicinal, anti- microbial or for use in insecticide. The basis of most compounds was aromatic which means that all herbs are rich with phenols, oils and scent. These constituents enabled the herbs to have antioxidant properties. Through a scrutiny, only A. subulatum, C. officinalis, E. foetidum and O. bacilicum could be promoted for supplementary use because these herbs were extensively studied for oral intake. The findings of this work are crucial for the bio-extractive industry because not all herbs although used traditionally, could be processed into supplements to promote well- being.