Alfalfa Medicago sativa.Alfalfa Extract.

Narrative Description of Alfalfa:Medicago sativa.

Alfalfa Extract INCI Name Medicago Sativa Extract CAS 84082-36-0 EINECS ELINCS No 281-984-0 Alfalfa Herb Extract Purple Medick and Trefoil extract Lucerne extract photo picture image The name "Alfalfa" is derived from the Arabic "al-fac-facah" which means "father of all foods". The genus name, Medicago, refers to Medea in North Africa from where this plant is thought to have originated. The species name, sativa, means "with a long history of cultivation".

Medicago sativa is a forage legume. Its high protein content makes it suitable for livestock feed. It has a tetraploid genome. M. sativa was probably domesticated in the in Near East during the Bronze Age to feed horses being brought from Central Asia, and later spread to Europe.

M. sativa is commonly cultivated for the production of lucerne hay. The largest cost of producing hay is in its establishment, and the gradual thinning and invasion of stands by weeds and grasses can reduce the life of the pasture. A combination of herbicides may be required for control. A genetically modified variety which is tolerant to the herbicide Roundup has been developed and is being field-tested for a 2004-05 release in the United States.

Common names include Alfalfa, Lucerne, Medic, Purple Medic, and Trefoil.

Alfalfa is widely advocated for consumption in the form of a tea or as tablets or capsules of the dried plant itself for a variety of ailments. We read testimonials to the efficacy of alfalfa tea in the cure of various types of arthritic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Advocates also tell us that large quantities of alfalfa tablets taken before meals will prevent the absorption of cholesterol, thus benefiting our arterial blood flow and especially our heart. Claims are made for the effectiveness of the tea in treating diabetes and in stimulating the appetite and acting as a general tonic. A recent study evaluated the effect of an alfalfa aqueous extract (1mg/ml) on insulin release in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. At a dose of 62.5g/kg of body weight, an insulin-releasing and antihyperglycemic activity was observed.

Scientific or clinical evidence in support of all but antidiabetic claims is scanty or totally lacking. There is one report that saponins of alfalfa root, which is not the part of the plant generally used, prevented an expected increase in plasma cholesterol in monkeys. Counterbalancing this, however, is evidence that alfalfa saponins are hemolytic and may interfere with the utilization of vitamin E.
Alfalfa Extract INCI Name Medicago Sativa Extract CAS 84082-36-0 EINECS ELINCS No 281-984-0 Alfalfa Herb Extract Purple Medick and Trefoil extract Lucerne extract photo picture image

Because of its importance as an animal feed, alfalfa has been the subject of numerous and detailed chemical analyses. They have revealed the presence, in addition to the aforementioned saponins, of such constituents as fiber, protein, fats, minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc.), organic acids, vitamin K, a small amount of vitamin C, various pigments including chlorophyll, and the like. Although some of these compounds do possess minor physiological activities, none is of significant therapeutic value, at least in the amount present in reasonable quantities of the herb. Considering the absolute lack of any proof of their utility in human medicine, alfalfa tablets, which presently may be purchased for a penny a piece, are still a bad buy. If you enjoy the taste of alfalfa sprouts in salads, they are refreshing and generally harmless, so feel free to eat them, at least in moderation.

There is good reason to insert the words "in moderation" in the last sentence. Since 1981, it has been recognized that eating very large quantities of alfalfa seeds daily could produce irreversible blood abnormalities (pancytopenia) in human beings. Subsequent studies have shown that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an inflammatory connective tissue disease, can be induced in normal monkeys by feeding alfalfa seeds or sprouts. Also, persons suffering from clinically inactive SLE may have that condition reactivated by taking quantities of alfalfa tablets. It seems likely that a nonprotein amino acid, L-canavanine, contained in alfalfa may play a role in causing the blood abnormalities and in inducing or reactivating SLE in persons having a predisposition to that condition. These latter individuals should be very cautious about consuming any alfalfa product, and since predisposition may not always be recognized, moderation seems generally advisable.

To make your own sprouts, soak a teaspoon of alfalfa seeds in a quart of tepid water overnight. Next morning, rinse the seeds thoroughly with tepid water and drain. Place them in a jar tightly covered with damp cheesecloth. Store in a dark place. Twice a day, rinse the sprouting seeds and drain them well, returning them to the dark after each rinse. After 4 to 5 days, place the sprouts in the sunlight for a few hours to green them, then store in the refrigerator. Use alfalfa sprouts instead of lettuce, since they are far more nutritious.

Reference:

1.Alfalfa Medicago sativa.Alfalfa Extract.

last edit date:3rd,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Alfalfa Extract
Serie No:R027.
Specifications:5:1 TLC.
INCI Name:MEDICAGO SATIVA EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:281-984-0
CAS:84082-36-0
Chem/IUPAC Name:Medicago Sativa Extract is an extract of the roots of the alfalfa,Medicago sativa,Leguminosae

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