Question

Which of the following is a medicinal plant?
A. Poondu
B. Vembu
C. Milagu
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Since prehistoric times, therapeutic plants, often known as medicinal herbs, have been identified and employed in traditional medicine practises. Plants synthesise hundreds of chemical compounds for defence against insects, fungi, illnesses, and herbivorous mammals, among other things. Plant remedies are used extensively all around the world. Local traditional medicine, including herbalism, is the only source of health care for most people in the developing world, especially in rural areas, whereas alternative medicine, including the use of dietary supplements, is aggressively marketed in the developed world using traditional medicine claims.

Complete answer:
Option A: Garlic is a species of bulbous blooming plant belonging to the Allium genus. Onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion are near relatives.
So, option A is not correct.
Option B: Azadirachta indica, generally known as neem, nimtree, or Indian lilac, is a mahogany tree in the Meliaceae family. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and most African countries, and is one of two species of the genus Azadirachta. It's most commonly grown in tropical and semi-tropical climates.
So, option B is not correct.
Option C: Black pepper is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family that is grown for its peppercorn-like fruit, which is dried and used as a spice and condiment. The fruit is roughly small in diameter when completely grown, dark crimson, and carries a single seed, as do other drupes.
So, option C is not correct.
Option D: The Tamil words for garlic, neem, and black pepper are poondu, vembu, and milagu, respectively.
Each of the three plants has its own set of therapeutic properties. These are as follows:
Milagu- Due to its antioxidant, antibacterial, and gastro-protective properties, black pepper is an important nutritious food.
Black pepper dried fruits are often used to treat gastrointestinal problems.
Poondu- Garlic has a large number of antibiotic and antifungal sulphur compounds, such as allicin, Allin, and ajoene.
The antibacterial components, as well as the volatile oil, aid in the treatment of colds and coughs.
Raw garlic promotes digestion and appetite when eaten first thing in the morning.
Vembu - The leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, and bark of the neem tree have traditionally been used to cure inflammation, infections, fever, skin illnesses, and dental problems.
Immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcer, antimalarial, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects have been demonstrated in neem leaf and its compounds.

Therefore, Option D. is the correct answer.

Note:
Medicinal plants that are taken from the wild rather than being cultivated face both general and specialised dangers. Climate change and habitat loss, as well as development and agriculture, are all risks. Over-collection to accommodate increased demand for pharmaceuticals is a special issue. Over-collection could be mitigated by cultivating some therapeutic plants or establishing a certification system to ensure that wild gathering is sustainable. Many medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction, due to over-collection.