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Spinacia oleracea L.

Summary
Spinach is a green leafy vegetable belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. It is a fleshly leaved annual herb whose leaves are green and arranged in heavy rosette. Leaves are eaten raw or cooked. Its leaves are rich source of carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein), flavonoids (Quercetin) and phenolics (apigenin and ortho-coumaric acid). These phytochemicalsreduce the cellular oxidative stress in lymphocytes by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and further enhances the proliferation of T-Lymphocytes in the body.

Mode of Consumption : Fresh, sauteed, fried and boiled
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Spinacia oleracea L.
Family: Amaranthaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Genus: Spinacia L.
Fruiting Season: All round the year
Parts: Leaves
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • North-Western Mountain Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Palakura
Assam : Paleng
Bihar : Palak
Himachal Pradesh : Palak
Karnataka : Soppu
Kerala : Chira
Punjab : Palak
Tamil Nadu : Palakura
Uttar Pradesh : Palak
Uttarakhand : Palak

Fresh leaves
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
Fresh leavesAntioxidantFresh leaves significantly decreases damage in lymphocyte DNA.Lymphocyte DNA[1]
Fresh leavesImmunomodulatoryFresh leaves helps in delayed type hypersensitivity due to the activation and prolifertaion of T lymphocytes which releases cytokines.T lymphocytes[4]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
CarotenoidLutein: 3.35 - 5.3 mg/100g, β- Carotene: 1.89-3.15 mg/100g[2]
FlavonoidApigenin: 17 mg/100g, Quercetin: 5 mg/100g[3]
Phenolic acidOrtho-coumaric acid: 5.58 mg/100g[2]
Effect Observation DOI
Animal model studiesIncrease in Lactobacillus reuteri and decrease in Staphylococcus spp., Kocuria and Bacillus simplex.DOI: 10.1017/jns.2012.29
Animal model studiesIncrease abundance of Bacteroides and Akkermansia and decrease in Lactobacillus and LactococcusDOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2019.103436
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Acute diarrhoeaAtisreapathyamBhaishajya RatnavaliGovinda Dasa, Edited by Rajeshvaradutta Shastri, Translated by Ambikaduttashastri, Published by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi, Edn. 14th, 2001Ayurveda
Ascites(Istisqaa -e- Ziqqi), Biliary Colic(Qoolanj-e-safrawi), Spleenalgia(Waja'-ul-Tehaal), Jaundice(Yaraqaan-e-Asfar), Chronic Abscess(Dubaila), Hepatalgia(Waja-ul-Kabid)Kalkalaanaj SagheerAl-Qaanoon-fil Tibb, Vol. VAbu Ali Ibn-e-Sina, Publication Department, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-62, 1996Unani
Insomnia(Sahar), Meningitis(Faraaneetas), Headache (Suda')Paashoyah Bara-e- Suda Wa SaharI'laaj al AmraazMohammad Shareef Khan, Afzal-al- Matabe, Barqi Press, Delhi, 1921Unani
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • Spinach is a good source of minerals, vitamin B complex, ascorbic acid and carotene and an important source of vitamin K.
  • Spinach is used in soups and salads.
  • The lipids from the leaves are reported to possess antibacterial properties.
CSIR(1976).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-X ,P.12-15, New Delhi, India
4.2, 04.2.1, 04.2.1.1, 04.2.1.3, 04.2.2.3, 04.2.2.5, 04.2.2.6, 04.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India