Health benefits of Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as globe amaranth, makhmali, vadamalli and rudrakshi hoova, is an edible plant from the family Amaranthaceae. The plant is native to Central America including regions Panama, and Guatemala, but is now grown globally. As a tropical annual plant, G. globosa blooms constantly throughout summer and early fall. It is very heat tolerant and fairly drought resistant, but grows best in full sun and regular moisture. The plant fixes carbon through the C4 pathway. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Globe Amaranth, Gomphrena, Bachelor’s Buttons, Gentleman’s Button, Button, makhmali, vadamalli, rudrakshi hoova, Common globe amaranth, bozu, everlasting, pearly everlasting, perpetua, Christ’s cloak and St Francis’ cord. Genus name comes from the Latin name for a kind of amaranth usually grown as a dried flower. Specific epithet means round or spherical. Gomphrena globosa L. is a popular edible plant used as food colorant and in traditional medicine.

Globe Amaranth Facts

Plant Description

Globe amaranth is an erect, branched, pubescent, annual bedding plant with a typical height of 30-60 cm, with some cultivars reaching 90 cm tall. It has a bushy subshrub appearance with a spread of 30-45 cm with branched stems. The plant is adaptable to any soil type and even tolerates poor or clayey soils. Stem is erect, stout branched; branches slightly quadrangular with gray strigose hairs and is slightly inflated at nodes and the plant has a bushy appearance. Leaves are opposite, oblong-elliptic to oblong-obovate, 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide, moderately pilose, petioles 1-1.5 cm long, the upper 1-2 sets of leaves are sessile. Young leaves are woolly-white and turn green with sparsely white hairs when mature. They are available in various shades of green, from medium green to greyish- and bluish-green, sometimes with a purplish or silvery tinge.

Leaf arrangement	Opposite/subopposite
Leaf type	Simple
Leaf margin	Entire
Leaf shape	Oblong
Leaf venation	Not applicable
Leaf type and persistence	Not applicable
Leaf blade length	2 to 4 inches
Leaf color	Green
Fall color	Not applicable
Fall characteristic	Not applicable

 

Flowers

Flowers are numerous, densely crowded in globose heads. Within the flower heads, the true flowers are small and inconspicuous. The heads are white, pink or purple, solitary, peduncled, 1.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter, subtended by 2 bracts. Bracteoles are 8 to 10 millimeters long, enclosing the flowers, lateral, keeled. Sepals, pubescent, 5, lanceolate, cleft at the tip, usually without staminodes. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled; style short or long, stigmas 2. The most common color is magenta, but there are also white and pale mauve varieties.

Gomphrena globosa is an outcrossing species that is pollinated by butterflies, bees, and other insects. Floral volatiles likely play a significant role in the reproductive success of the plant by promoting the attraction of pollinators.

Flower color	White; pink; purple; yellow
Flower characteristic	Showy

 

Fruits

Fruits are utricles, compressed, and indehiscent and is unopened at maturity and about 1.5–2.5 mm long. Seeds are shiny, ovoid, reddish brown, reniform, 1.5–2 mm wide and encased in a thick coating.

Fruit shape	No fruit
Fruit length	No fruit
Fruit cover	No fruit
Fruit color	Not applicable
Fruit characteristic	Inconspicuous and not showy

 

Health benefits of Globe Amaranth

Listed below are some of the popular health benefits of Globe Amaranth

1. Balances Blood Pressure 

Oils in amaranth bloom have been appeared to help counteract and treat those with hypertension and cardiovascular sickness. Normal consumption of amaranth can decrease cholesterol levels and lower pulse. An infusion of amaranth blossoms additionally helps the body’s immune system, lessening defenselessness to viruses.

2. Prevents Grey Hair 

Regular consumption of amaranth tea has additionally been appeared to decrease the greying of the hair. An infusion of Amaranth Tea is smooth and stimulating, with an unadulterated, fresh and quietly rich aroma. Enjoy the enchanting sight as the infusion turns from delicate pink to a deep purple. Also a great expansion to mixed drinks and jellies for its wonderful shading.

3. Anti-Bacterial Properties

It has wonderful anti-bacterial properties. Whole plant methanol extract has been clinically proven to have anti-bacterial properties against gram positive bacteria that include Bacillus Cereus and Staphylococcus Aureus. It has anti-bacterial properties against gram negative bacteria that include Escherichia Coli and Salmonella Typhi.

4. Anti-Fungal Properties

The methanolic extract has anti-fungal properties against fungal strains that include Candida Albicans, Aspergillus Niger and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.

5. Antioxidant Properties

The methanolic extract of the whole plant showed significant anti-oxidant properties. Gomphrena globosa tea is very famous in many places and is consumed for its wonderful antioxidant properties.

6. Detoxifying & Purifying Properties

Gomphrena globosa is truly a detoxifying herb and helps get rid of toxins and helps purify our body. Apart from the mentioned medicinal uses, it has been traditionally used for treating gall stones, nose bleed, cough and oliguria (low amount of urine production).

Traditional uses and benefits of Globe Amaranth

• Flowers of G. globosa are used in traditional medicine to treat colic, diabetes and problems with the prostate and reproductive systems.
• It is also used to treat a variety of respiratory problems, including cough, asthma and bronchitis, and problems with the kidneys and urinary system.
• It contains vitamin C and E and thought to reduce fatigue and slow aging.
• It has been used to treat stomach upset, and has even been used to treat colic in babies.
• Globe amaranth tea is said to help stop greying of hair, and the amino acids may help to delay hair loss.
• Globe amaranth tea has also been sued for centuries to counter high blood pressure.
• Oils contained in the flowers are helpful in lowering blood pressure, and while they shouldn’t be used instead of blood pressure meds.
• It can also help you to cure chronic inflammation.
• Globe Amaranth herbal Tea is an excellent anti-inflammatory that efficiently combats headaches, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, clears the voice, and relieves symptoms of asthma.
• It is also a tea that is drunk regularly to prevent cancer, reduces bad cholesterol and acts as a natural tranquilizer.
• Globe Amaranth tea is used for a baby gripe, oliguria, cough and diabetes.
• It is also known for helping to relieve cough, shortness of breath, and enhance vision.
• It is commonly consumed for the treatment of several respiratory inflammatory conditions, such as bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis or whooping cough.
• Decoction of dried material or inflorescences is used for bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, and whooping cough.
• Decoction of fresh plant used to wash sores.
• Flower decoction are used for inflammation of the eyes, difficulty urinating, headaches, and dysentery.
• In Myanmar, decoction of plant used for cough.
• In the Guianas, whole plant infusion of the white-flowered variant used as diabetes remedy.
• Warm infusion of leaf is used as sudorific.
• Globosa leaves and flower are used as a folk remedy for oliguria, heat and empacho, hypertension, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cough, diabetes, kidney problems, hoarseness, bronchitis, jaundice, high cholesterol, and other respiratory disorders.
• It is also used as crushed paste of leaves, which is applied to the affected part and covered with the leaves of the same plant, as a treatment for body sore.

Home Remedies Using Globe Amaranth

• Globe Amaranth Tea: To make the tea, boil water and add either fresh flowers or the dried ones and let them steep for a few minutes, strain and drink. If you prefer you can sweeten with honey too. This tea is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is very good for diabetics and pressure patients. It also has a calming effect and is wonderful in reducing stress.
• For Wounds: Since it has anti-microbial properties, the whole plant can be ground and applied as a poultice. This poultice is very effective and helps heal wounds very quickly.
• For Skin: Tea or the infusion of the fresh flowers can be used just like rose water for skin care. Since it is rich in antioxidants it will greatly prevent skin ageing. You can use it to mix dry ingredients in face packs; can be used in creams and lotions too.

Other Facts

• Gomphrena globosa flowers are a source of betacyanins which are used as additives in the food and cosmetic industries and as a natural purple-red food dye.
• In Hawaii, it is commonly used in long-lasting leis since it retains its shape and color after drying.
• In Nepal, the flower also known commonly as makhamali ful and is used to make a garland during Bhai Tika, last day of Tihar.
• This plant is popular in landscape design and cutting gardens for its vivid colors and color retention.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=20804#null

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/gomphrena_globosa.htm

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=17860

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a115

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/25617

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2829209

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomphrena_globosa

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327333-2

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Gomphrena.html

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/GOMGL

https://ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/2378_pdf.pdf

https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=GOGL

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