Ethnobotany: Jasmine Plant (Term Paper Sample)

Ethnobotany: Jasmine Plant Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Title Instructor’s Name Date Background, origin, history, and mythology Jasmine is a green climbing plant that produces a white jasmine flower usually associated with suggestive perfumes derived from its fragrance. Jasmine flower is widely used in various areas such as weddings, manufacturing, food and beauty, and medicinal purposes. This review paper discusses the jasmine flower, which is largely grown in Bangladesh. As the ethnobotanist here, my decision to pick the flower was informed by my parents’ home of origin- Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi often call the plant “Beli ful,” a name not known by many. From the early years, various people have applied jasmine flowers as medicine due to their anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, relaxing, and antidepressant properties. The flower has a characteristic smell that gives it the names “queen of flowers” and “king of flowers.” The flower has a powerful scent, especially at night, which offers a high fragrance intensity and has a characteristic nice floral note accompanied by a “dead-sexy,” earthy, and woodsy aroma (D.T, 2021). The flower is used in different cultures and is associated with different impressions, such as romance, beauty, passion, love, and weddings. This makes it preferred by many perfumers who refer to it as ‘La Fleur.’ The name jasmine has a Persian origin, meaning a ‘gift from God.’ The flower’s healing power was highly valued in Ancient Greece, Persia, and Egypt. Aromatherapists in the countries still find the Jasmine plant important in managing weight loss and improving the rates of metabolism and digestion since it has aphrodisiac properties (D.T, 2021). Jasmine has more than 200 species that are broadly divided into two categories of the white-flowered family: first, the Jasminum grandiflorum, also called the big-flowered Jasmine, and the second, Jasmine sambac, also known as Arabian Jasmine, with southeast Asian origin extending to the lower regions of Himalayas and Ganges River banks. Jasmine is believed to have originated from India and China and belongs to the olive family. Jasmine has spread throughout Europe over the years, The Jasmine flower’s meaning dominated Arab mythology, where it is believed that a young, beautiful nomad called Jasmine used large veil quantities to safeguard herself from the strong desert sun rays. A prince from North Africa was surprised by the description of Jasmine’s beauty and was determined to confirm the beauty. Therefore, the prince went into the desert in her search, and when he finally met her, he saw her graceful appearance, reminding him of the mythological goddess. He fell in love with the young woman, although her face remained covered (Abinaya & Roomi, 2016). The prince proposed to the young lady, who agreed to live with the prince in the palace and leave the desert where she spent all her life. After some time, the lady realized that she had lost her freedom while in the wilderness and escaped at night on a horse. When she reached the desert, she stretched her arms to the sun, releasing all the veils covering her. From then, the sun immortalized her in the sweet-smelling flower Jasmine. Traditional medicinal effects of Jasmine Due to its medicinal effects, different communities and cultures have utilized the Jasmine plant to cure various diseases. Some diseases managed using Jasmine include hepatitis liver disease, liver pains caused by cirrhosis, stomach and abdominal pains caused by dysentery, or severe diarrhea. The plant has also been used as a sedative due to its relaxation effects (Rassem et al., 2018). The aphrodisiac properties have also been exploited to boost sexual desire. In some cases, the plant has been used in cancer treatment. Although there is no specific dosing prescription, the dosing depends on factors such as the user’s health condition, age, and other factors. The users usually depend on the physicians’ prescription since not all natural products are safe. Digestive Health Jasmine has high antioxidant contents whose interaction with gastrointestinal enzymes optimizes healthy bowel function and nutrient absorption. The plant also facilitates the growth of good bacteria in the stomach, replacing harmful bacteria. Antiseptic properties help in soothing inflammation and relieve stomach cramps and indigestion. According to one of the recent studies, jasmine flower extracts inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli, which cause gastrointestinal disorders that may result in diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea (SIHITE et al., 2021). Insomnia When consumed in tea or used in the essential oil form, Jasmine has sedative impacts on the nervous system, which soothes and relaxes the jangled and tensed nerves. Like many herbs, Jasmine exhibits adaptogenic properties that can either down-regulate or up-regulate the system as needed (Balestrini, 2015). Sedative components in Jasmine have been established to enhance peaceful sleep, assist in insomniac induction, and regulate irregular or erratic sleep. Aphrodisiac For many years, Jasmine has been used as a libido (sexual desire) enhancer and aphrodisiac by many herbalists. Its heady, exotic scent helps lift spirits and breaks emotional barriers, promoting intimacy (SIHITE et al., 2021). The antidepressant properties and the relaxation ability make jasmine oil essential in overcoming the sexual challenges in the mind instead of the physiological reproductive system challenges. Jasmine also has natural hormone-balancing qualities, which have been exploited to enhance symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome function as a substance that stimulates menstrual flow (emmenagogue). The emmenagogue qualities help in regulating menstrual cycles and relieve painful menses (Alavi et al., 2017). Jasmine is a flavor for frozen dairy desserts, candies, gelatins, beverages, puddings, and baked items in the food industry. The manufacturing industry used Jasmine to add scent to lotions, perfumes, and creams. Uses of Jasmine in different regions Jasmine has been used as a therapeutic flower in various parts of the Asian continent to treat insomnia, anxiety, stress, and depression. It has been considered a natural remedy for various illnesses and applied in food and manufacturing industries (Arifan et al., 2021). In India, Jasmine is considered an essence of magic and mystery used by Indian women to perfume their hair and thus the name “moonlight of the groove.” In other regions like Pakistan, the flower has been considered the sacred flow of the God of love, Kama. The bride usually adorns in jasmine garland and roses around the neck during weddings to signify her passion and purity. In the Philippines, the Jasmine flower symbolizes purity, modesty, strength, and simplicity. In China, the aromatic Jasmine flavored tea became popular in the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 AD and was later grown in the Fujian region. The tea became popular and largely consumed due to its general well-being and health benefits. Major active components and their chemical structures Jasmine flowers have various active compounds with various functions on the plant and humans. Some active components include alpha terpineol, benzyne acid, benzyl acetate, farnesol, jasmone, linalyl acetate, vanillin, benzyl alcohol, eugenol, geraniol, and salicylic acid (Rassem et al., 2018). The components have antioxidant antimicrobial activity. When essential jasmine oil is applied to the skin, it helps moisten the skin and reduces its microbial activity, thus protecting the skin. As discussed above, using Jasmine has various health benefits for human activity. Jasmine has also demonstrated insecticidal potential when the essential oil is applied against Brassicogethes aeneus and Oxycarenus lavatera. This insecticidal property has been valuable and applied as a biofilm control factor to extend the shelf life and storage of vegetables and fruits and is also used as an insecticidal agent (Zhou et al., 2022). The active components significantly affect the plant, protecting it against environmental stresses such as pathogen attacks, predators, and other environmental stresses such as temperature. The active components also stimulate the production of secondary metabolites, which support the plant in surviving in the environment where it exists (SIHITE et al., 2021). Usage of Jasmine Jasmine is a plant that is used as a natural product. The flower is the main source of medicine, where the flower is crushed and dissolved in a suitable solvent to extract the active components. However, the scent released by the flower has a therapeutic effect. Research has shown that extracts from jasmine flowers have antimicrobial effects against fungi and bacteria and are therefore used as a natural ingredient for fungal infections. However, Jasmine is not extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry. Scientific studies that address the efficacy of the plant component Various scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the plant’s active components. Research published by the “Journal of Health Research” which investigated the impact of inhaling jasmine oil, discovered that inhalation affected human moods and the central nervous system. The research established that the study participants showed a positive effect where they were more energetic, positive in their thinking, and were more romantic. A different study was also conducted to determine the effect of jasmine oil when used during aromatherapy massage. The study discovered that the participants who used jasmine oil exhibited enhanced behavior arousal compared to those who did not. A further examination of the study showed that Jasmine leads to increased blood oxygen concentration and breathing rate. The increased breathing rate and blood oxygen concentration made the par...