Hydroponics and Health Benefits of Rosemary

Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb with plenty of cooking and industrial applications. It is often used as a culinary spice in cuisine preparations, while the industrial applications revolve around pharmaceutical and perfume manufacturing. An overview of its applications and profile is as follows:

Hydroponics of Rosemary

Rosemary’s hydroponic cultivation is relatively straightforward if the following conditions are met:

Hydroponic System

Rosemary’s hydroponics consists of two stages. In the first stage, seeds are germinated in Rockwool starter cubes. Once the roots have taken hold of the medium, the seedling is transplanted into the trough of the nutrient film technique system.

Light and Temperature

Rosemary requires a minimum of 11 hours of strong daylight in the temperature range of 75-84°F.

Nutrients

A 2013 study deemed NPK fertilizer of ratio 100:25:25 ideal for increasing the herbage and actual yield of rosemary. (Singh & Guleria, 2013)

Nutritional Profile of Rosemary

Fresh rosemary consumption nourishes the body with the following nutrients:

Carbohydrates and Proteins

It has low caloric content because of reduced quantities of carbohydrates and proteins. (FoodData Central , 2019)

Minerals

Like most members of the mint family, rosemary is also rich in calcium, potassium, and iron.

Vitamins

It doesn’t have an extensive vitamin profile. Vitamin C is the only significant one; the rest are in negligible quantities.

Health Benefits of Rosemary

Cytoprotective Effects

Oxidative stress is a metabolic phenomenon that can damage the cell’s infrastructure and decrease its survivability. A blend of rosemary extract protects the cell from environmental factors that may trigger oxidative stress. (Rajgopal, Roloff, & Burns, 2019)

Chemistry of Rosemary

In a 2008 study, gas chromatography of the rosemary unveiled 20 compounds that conclude to about 99% of the rosemary’s extract. Upon further analysis, the number of compounds was narrowed down to the p-cymene, linalool, gamma-terpinene, eucalyptol and thymol. (Ozcan & Chalchat, 2008)

Rosemary also contains an important class of compounds called caffeic acid. And it owes much of its benefits to a caffeic acid derivative called rosmarinic acid.

Rosemary not only acts as a food flavour, but It’s also a food preservative that keeps your whole foods fresh.

References

FoodData Central . (2019). Retrieved from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173473/nutrients

Ozcan, M. M., & Chalchat, J.-C. (2008). Chemical composition and antifungal activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) oil from Turkey. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, 691-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480701777944

Rajgopal, A., Roloff, S. J., & Burns, C. R. (2019). The cytoprotective benefits of turmeric, quercetin, and rosemary blend through activation of the oxidative stress pathway. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 449-454. doi:10.4103/pm.pm_556_18

Singh, M., & Guleria, N. (2013, March). Influence of harvesting stage and inorganic and organic fertilizers on yield and oil composition of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in a semi-arid tropical climate. Industrial Crops and Products, 42, 37-40. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.04.054