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Borage

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about common speciesBorago officinalis.For related plants sometimes called borage, seeBorago

Borage
Borage flowers
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Borago
Species:
B. officinalis
Binomial name
Borago officinalis
Synonyms[1]
Synonyms
  • Borago advenaGilib.
  • Borago asperaGilib.
  • Borago hortensisL.

Borage(/ˈbʌrɪdʒ/ⓘ[2]or/ˈbɒrɪdʒ/;[3]Borago officinalis), also known asstarflower,is an annualherbin theflowering plantfamilyBoraginaceaenative to theMediterranean region.Although the plant contains small amounts ofpyrrolizidine alkaloids,some parts are edible andits seeds provide oil.

Borage stem

Description

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B. officinalisflower

B. officinalisgrows to a height of60–100 centimetres (2–3+1⁄2feet), and is bristly or hairy all over the stems andleaves;the leaves arealternate,simple,and 5–15 cm (2–6 inches) long.

The flowers arecomplete,perfectwith five narrow, triangular-pointedpetals.Flowers are most often blue, although pink flowers are sometimes observed. White-flowered types are also cultivated. The blue flower is genetically dominant over the white flower.[4]

The flowers arise alongscorpioid cymesto form large floral displays with multiple flowers blooming simultaneously, suggesting that borage has a high degree ofgeitonogamy(intraplant pollination).[4]

It has an indeterminate growth habit. In temperate climates such as in the UK, its flowering season is relatively long, from June to September. In milder climates, borage blooms continuously for most of the year. It can be invasive.

Chemistry

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The seeds consist of 26–38%borage seed oil,of which 17–28% isgamma-linolenic acid(GLA, an Omega-6 oil), the richest-known source.[5]

The oil also contains thefatty acidspalmitic acid(10–11%),stearic acid(3.5–4.5%),oleic acid(16–20%),linoleic acid(35–38%),eicosenoic acid(3.5–5.5%),erucic acid(1.5–3.5%), andnervonic acid(1.5%).

The oil is often marketed as "starflower oil" or "borage oil" for use as a GLA supplement, although healthy adults typically produce ample GLA from dietarylinoleic acid.

The leaves contain small amounts (2–10 ppm of dried herb) of theliver-toxicpyrrolizidine alkaloids(PA)intermedine,lycopsamine,amabiline,andsupinineand the nontoxicsaturatedPAthesinine.[6]PAs are also present in borage seed oil, but may be removed by processing.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to theMediterranean region,and has naturalized in many other locales.[13]It grows satisfactorily in gardens in most of Europe, such as Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, remaining in the garden from year to year by self-seeding.

Toxicity

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In addition to the liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in the leaves and seed oil, the GermanFederal Institute for Risk Assessmenthas advised that honey from borage contains PAs, transferred to the honey through pollen collected at borage plants, and advise that commercial honey production could select for raw honey with limited PA content to prevent contamination.[14]

Uses

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A white-flowercultivar
Two blossoms: the younger one is pink, the older blue.

Traditionally, borage was cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses, although today, commercial cultivation is mainly as an oilseed.

Borage is used as either a fresh vegetable or a dried herb. As a fresh vegetable, borage, with acucumber-like taste, is often used in salads or as a garnish.[15]

The flower has a sweet, honey-like taste and is often used to decoratedessertsand cocktails,[15]sometimes frozen in ice cubes.[16]

Vegetable use of borage is common in Germany, in the Spanish regions ofAragónandNavarre,on the Greek island ofCrete,and in the northern Italian region ofLiguria.

Although often used in soups, one of the better known German borage recipes is theFrankfurtspecialitygrüne Soße( "green sauce" ).

In Liguria, Italy, borage (in Italian,borragine) is commonly used as a filling of the traditional pastaravioliandpansoti.[17]

It is used to flavour pickledgherkinsinPoland[18]and Russia.[19]

The flowers produce copious nectar[20]which is used by honeybees to make a light and delicate honey.[21]

InAragonese cuisine,borage boiled and sautéed withgarlicis served withpotatoes.

Beverage

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Borage is traditionally used as agarnishin thePimms Cupcocktail,[15]but is nowadays often replaced by a long sliver of cucumber peel or bymint.It is also one of the key botanicals inGilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry Gin.The author ofCups and their Customsnotes that a sprig or two of borage "communicates a peculiar refreshing flavour" to any cool drink.[22]

InPersiancuisine, borage tea (using the dried purple flowers) is called گل گاوزبان:gol gâvzabân,"cow's-tongue-flower".[23]

Herbal medicine

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Traditionally,Borago officinalishas been used inhyperactivegastrointestinal,respiratoryandcardiovasculardisorders,[24]such as gastrointestinal (colic,cramps,diarrhea), airways (asthma,bronchitis), cardiovascular, (cardiotonic,antihypertensiveand blood purifier),urinary(diuretic and kidney/bladder disorders).[25]

One case ofstatus epilepticushas been reported that was associated with borage oil ingestion.[26]

Amethanolextract of borage has shown strongamoebicidalactivityin vitro.The 50% inhibitory concentration (LD50) of the extract againstEntamoeba histolyticawas 33 μg/mLl.[27]

Companion planting

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Borage is used incompanion planting.[28]It is said to protect or nurselegumes,spinach,brassicas,and evenstrawberries.[29]It is also said to be a good companion plant totomatoesbecause it confuses the mother moths oftomato hornwormsormanducalooking for a place to lay their eggs.[30]Claims that it improves tomato growth[31]and makes them taste better[30]remain unsubstantiated.

In culture

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Pliny the ElderandDioscoridessaid that borage was thenepenthe(νηπενθές: nēpenthés) mentioned inHomer,which caused forgetfulness when mixed with wine.[32]

KingHenry VIII'slast wife,Catherine Parr,used borage in a concoction to treat melancholy.[33]

Francis Baconthought that borage had "an excellent spirit to repress the fuliginous vapour of dusky melancholie".[32]

John Gerard'sHerballmentions an old verse concerning the plant: "Ego Borago, Gaudia semper ago(I, Borage, bring always joys) ". He asserts:

Those of our time do use the flowers in salads to exhilerate and make the mind glad. There be also many things made of these used everywhere for the comfort of the heart, for the driving away of sorrow and increasing the joy of the mind. The leaves and flowers of Borage put into wine make men and women glad and merry and drive away all sadness, dullness and melancholy, as Dioscorides and Pliny affirm. Syrup made of the flowers of Borage comfort the heart, purge melancholy and quiet the frantic and lunatic person. The leaves eaten raw engender good blood, especially in those that have been lately sick.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Borago officinalis L."Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Retrieved25 July2024.
  2. ^"borage".Oxford English Dictionary(Online ed.).Oxford University Press.(Subscription orparticipating institution membershiprequired.)
  3. ^Le Robert et Collins English-French Dictionaryand theAmerican Heritage Dictionary
  4. ^abMontaner, C.; Floris, E.; Alvarez, J. M. (February 2001). "Geitonogamy: a mechanism responsible for high selfing rates in borage (Borago officinalis L.)".Theoretical and Applied Genetics.102(2–3): 375–378.doi:10.1007/s001220051656.S2CID26250534.
  5. ^National Non-Food Crops Centre.NNFCC Crop Factsheet: Borage,Retrieved on 16 Feb 2011
  6. ^"Borage Wildflower Finder".Wildflowerfinder.org.uk.Retrieved2013-09-13.
  7. ^"Borage".Sloan-Ketteringwebsite.Retrieved2024-09-15.
  8. ^Dodson, Craig D.; Stermitz, Frank R. (1986). "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from borage (Borago officinalis) seeds and flowers".Journal of Natural Products.49(4): 727–728.doi:10.1021/np50046a045.
  9. ^Parvais, O.; Vander Stricht, B.; Vanhaelen-Fastre, R.; Vanhaelen, M. (1994). "TLC detection of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in oil extracted from the seeds of Borago officinalis".Journal of Planar Chromatography--Modern TLC.7(1): 80–82.
  10. ^Wretensjoe, Inger; Karlberg, Bo. (2003). "Pyrrolizidine alkaloid content in crude and processed borage oil from different processing stages".Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society.80(10): 963–970.doi:10.1007/s11746-003-0804-z.S2CID94575246.
  11. ^Awang V. C. (1999). Eskinazi D. (ed.).Botanical Medicine: The Information Base for safety assessment of Botanicals.
  12. ^Langer T.; Franz Ch. (1997). "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in commercial samples of borage seed oil products by GC-MS".Scientia Pharmaceutica.65(4): 321–328.
  13. ^Altervista Flora Italiana, Borragine comune, gurkört,Borago officinalisL.includes photos, drawings, and European distribution map
  14. ^"Fragen und Antworten zu Pyrrolizidinalkaloiden in Lebensmitteln"(PDF)(in German).Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.4 August 2014.Retrieved12 November2015.
  15. ^abc"Borage".Encyclopedia of spices.The Epicentre. 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-03.Retrieved2010-12-01.
  16. ^"Heston's Cucumber gin and tonic".www.waitrose.com.Retrieved23 May2020.
  17. ^Logan, Gabi (5 January 2012)."Foodie Guide to Borragine".ITALY Magazine.Retrieved23 May2020.
  18. ^"Hengstenberg Knax Polish Style Gherkins Choice Grade 720g - Hengstenberg, Germany".ruskiwaydeli.com.au.Retrieved23 May2020.
  19. ^"Pickled Gherkins - Russian Style".Kühne.4 December 2015.Retrieved23 May2020.
  20. ^"Borage: Species information".cotswoldseeds.com.Retrieved13 June2020.
  21. ^"English Borage Honey".littleoverapiaries.com.Retrieved13 June2020.
  22. ^Roberts, George Edwin (1863).Cups and their Customs.London: J. Van Voorst. p.32.
  23. ^"CHAI GOL GAVZABAN گل گاوزبان | BREWED BORAGE TEA".22 October 2015.Retrieved8 September2020.
  24. ^Gilani A.H., Bashir S., Khan A.-u. "Pharmacological basis for the use of Borago officinalis in gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders",Journal of Ethnopharmacology114 (3), pp 393–399, 2007.
  25. ^Gilani A.H. "Focused Conference Group: P16 - Natural products: Past and future? Pharmacological use of borago officinalis",Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology.Conference: 16th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. WorldPharma 2010 Copenhagen Denmark. Publication: (var. pagings). 107 (pp. 301), 2010. Date of Publication: July 2010.
  26. ^Al-Khamees WA, Schwartz MD, Alrashdi S, Algren AD, Morgan BW (2011)."Status Epilepticus Associated with Borage Oil Ingestion".Journal of Medical Toxicology.7(2): 154–157.doi:10.1007/s13181-011-0135-9.PMC3724443.PMID21387119.After taking 1.5 to 3 g of borage oil daily for a week; level of GLA in blood was high.
  27. ^Leos-Rivas C, Verde-Star MJ, Torres LO, Oranday-Cardenas A, Rivas-Morales C, Barron-Gonzalez MP, Morales-Vallarta MR, Cruz-Vega DE (2011). "In vitro amoebicidal activity of borage (Borago officinalis) extract on entamoeba histolytica".Journal of Medicinal Food.14(7–8): 866–869.doi:10.1089/jmf.2010.0164.PMID21476887.
  28. ^"Gardening Borage a Companion Plant".Back2theland.com.2009-05-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-03-02.Retrieved2013-09-13.
  29. ^Darlene S. Widirstky."Herbal Companion Planting in the Vegetable Garden".N8ture.Retrieved2013-09-13.
  30. ^abFischer, Fern (21 September 2017)."How to Use Borage".Gardenguides.com.Retrieved2013-09-13.
  31. ^"Companion Planting".Golden Harvest Organics. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-24.Retrieved2013-09-13.
  32. ^abcGrieve, Maud (1971).A Modern Herbal: The Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folk-lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs, & Trees with All Their Modern Scientific Uses, Volume 1.Courier Corporation. p. 120.ISBN9780486227986.
  33. ^Susan James. Catherine Parr: Henry VIII's Last Love, 2010
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https://persianmama.com/chai-gol-gavzaban-brewed-borage-tea/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/557179785128125722/

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