Botanical Name -: Ribes Nigrum
Family Name -: Grossulariaceae
Other Name -: Black currant, Quinsy Berries, Cassis
Description
Black currant is a shrub . and it can grow up to 2 m heigh with woody branches . The flowers are dark purple, small., shiny with short cluster. Best grown in northern regions where the weather is generally cool and wet, blackcurrants were traditionally used, much like blackberries, to prepare delicious drinks, teas or home-made syrups. Blackcurrants are extremely rich in vitamin C, containing four times as much as in an equivalent weight of oranges. It is found in cold temperature region extending from himalays to northern asia and europe.Black currant are very rich in vitamin C and contin 0.9-1.7% pectin as calcium pectate also minerals , potassium. The acidity of the fruit is mainly due to citric acid , malic acid is present in small amounts. Glucose and fructose are principal sugare, sucrose is a minor component.The flavonoids in the fruits include kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. Trated mainly in the skin, consist of glycosides of cyanidol and delphinidol. The anthocyansoides are reportedly bacteriostatic and exhibit vasoprotective and anti inflammatory activity. They are antisecretory against cholera toxin induced intestinal fluid secreation in vitr. The leaves contains an anti- inflammatory principle, pycnometol and minute quantities of an essential oil composed mostlty of terpenes.The seeds oil lowers VLDL and total cholesterol. As currant contain salicylic acid they are indicated in rheumatism .It has two types one is Red and second is White. The whole plant has strong pungent. An in vitro reasearch set black currant extract to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells and, to a lesser extent, colon cancer cell.
Uses
The dried leaves are useful in cough, cold , asthma and other bronchitis conditions . The leaves are diuretic and hence useful in urinary infections, inflammations, kidney stones, urinary stones etc. . The fruit are mildly spasmolytic and anti-inflammatory .The fruit are useful in constipations and purfies the blood. It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. . Blackcurant seed oil contains essential fatty acids and is one of the richest sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in fact it contains about 15 per cent more GLA than evening primrose oil - and is sold in capsules. This plant is applied skin diseases such as eczema, itching, wounds, cuts, swelling, ulcers etc. It has also been effective to used for symptoms of menopausal and menstrual disorders. Diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma, multiple sclerosis is also treated by black currant . The whole plant is remedy for sore throats, skin conditions, Tooth problems such as bleeding gum, toothache etc, piles conditions like paining , bleeding etc
How to Use in Different Diseases
An infusion is also useful in inflammatory conditions such as sote throat, hoarseness. Applied externally, blackcurrant seed oil has been found beneficial for skin care, improving skin softness and suppleness. The purple-black skins of blackcurants contain anthocyanidins, important antioxidant flavonoids with an antiinflammatory effect, which explains the practice of sipping hot blackcurrant syrup for sore throats in folk medicine.The virtue of black jellyn as a rewmedy for quinacy , cold, sore throat, hace long been familar. A teaspoonfuls two or three times a day may be given with advantages to children with thrush. White and red currant contain similar properties. Jelly made from them is excellent in fevers. A teas is useful in arthritis, urinary problems, diarrhoea, bleeding gums and coughs. The juice of thre black currant is beneficial increased the urinary pH level and the excretion of citric acid. Syrup is helpful in sore throat and it should be taken one to two teaspoonfuls twice a day at mealtime .It has occure side effect such as diarrhea or soft stools, belching, and abdominal bloating .The decoction is useful in calculus, dropsy, and haemorrhoidal tumours. Taken one to two teaspoonfuls twice a day at meal time.
Dose and Preparations
Infusion ,Tea,juice,Decoction
Infusion- 1- 2ml
Tea-2-4gm
Decoction- 5 to 10ml
Juice- 10 to 15ml