Most seeds are rich in oil and protein. Many seeds contain considerable amounts of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and calcium. Many seed oils have unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major acids. Many seeds also have compounds such as stachyose, raffinose, verbascose, trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid, and tannins. Nuts and seeds are rich in unsaturated fat and other nutrients that may reduce inflammation. Frequent nut consumption is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers, and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Types of edible and
medicinal seeds
Ambrette seeds,
Abelmoschus moschatus, have a sweet,
flowery, heavy fragrance similar to that of musk.
Black seed - Black caraway
Q. I have a myeloproliferative disease of the bone marrow (ET), and for the last
three years, following a stroke, I've been on a chemotherapy drug (Droxia) to
lower my platelet count. I had lowered the count to under 400 when, about 2
months ago, I read about the wonders of black seed oil. Although these PubMed
articles sometimes said the oil would increase platelets, they as often used the
word "balance" regarding platelets. I started on 3 teaspoons/day of the oil
(recommended for cancers). I was on that amount for about 2 months when I
learned, yesterday, that I had reached over 700 for the platelet count! I've
stopped the oil.
Cassia seed is used in Chinese medicine.
Celery seed is the dried fruit of Apium graveolens
which is related, but not identical, to the vegetable celery plant.
Prog Drug Res. 2015 .Celery Seed and Related Extracts
with Antiarthritic, Antiulcer, and Antimicrobial Activities.
Chia seeds provide a source of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. Chia seeds are can be added to bread and other baked goods.
Flax seed consumption may lower the risk for prostate cancer.
Gourd Seed
Gourd is defined as any of several trailing or climbing plants related to the
pumpkin, squash, and cucumber and bearing fruits with a hard rind.
Protein source tryptophan versus pharmaceutical grade tryptophan as an
efficacious treatment for chronic insomnia.
Nutr Neurosci. 2005.
Biosential Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Intact protein rich in tryptophan was not seen as an alternative to
pharmaceutical grade tryptophan since protein also contains large neutral amino
acids (LNAAs) that compete for transport sites across the blood-brain barrier
(BBB). Deoiled gourd seed (an extremely rich source of tryptophan-22 mg
tryptophan/1 g protein) was combined with glucose, a carbohydrate that reduces
serum levels of competing LNAAs which was then compared to pharmaceutical grade
tryptophan with carbohydrate as well as carbohydrate alone. Objective
and subjective measures of sleep were employed to measure changes in sleep as
part of a double blind placebo controlled study where subjects were randomly
assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Protein source tryptophan (deoiled
gourd seed) in combination with carbohydrate; (2) pharmaceutical grade
tryptophan in combination with carbohydrate; (3) carbohydrate alone.
Out of 57 subjects 49 of those who began the study completed the three week
protocol. Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate and
pharmaceutical grade
Tryptophan, but not carbohydrate alone, resulted in
significant improvement on subjective and objective measures of insomnia.
Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate alone proved effective in
significantly reducing time awake during the night. Protein source tryptophan is comparable to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan for the treatment of
insomnia.
Okra Hibiscus esculentes
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. October 2013. Antidepressant activity of Hibiscus
esculentus. Okra is distributed from Africa to Asia, Southern European and
America and widely used as food. The aim of present study was to investigate
antidepressant activity of Okra seeds and leaves. Antidepressant activity of
methanolic extracts were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST) and tail
suspension tests (TST). Also, total phenol and flavonoid contents were measured
by Folin Ciocalteau and AlCl3 assays, respectively.RESULTS:Phenol and flavonoid
contents of extracts were determined as gallic acid and quercetin equivalents
from a calibration curve, respectively. Extracts showed good antidepressant
activity in both FST and TST. The extracts shortened remarkably the immobility
period in FST and TST and exhibited a dose dependent activity. Seeds extract in
250, 500 and 750 mg kg-1 showed significant activity as compared to control (p <
0.001). Both extracts at 750 mg kg-1 showed similar activity as imipramine 15 mg
kg-1 (p > 0.05) in TST. Extracts contained high amount of phenol and flavonoids.
No mortality has been observed up to 2 g kg-1 for seeds and 2.5 g kg-1 for
leaves. These results introduced H. esculentus seeds and leaves as an easily
accessible and edible source of natural antidepressant.
Pumpkin seed
is sometimes recommended for prostate health.
Paprika seed
Rice (Oryza sativa) is the major staple food consumed by half of the world's population. Rice seeds have gained recent attention as bioreactors for the production of human pharmaceuticals such as therapeutic proteins or peptides.
Sesame
seeds have a high phytosterol content.
Watermelon seed
Phytosterols in Nuts and Seeds
Sesame seeds and wheat germ have the highest total phytosterol
content (400-413 mg/100 g) and Brazil nuts the lowest (95 mg/100 g). Of
the products typically consumed as snack foods, pistachio nuts and
sunflower kernel are richest in phytosterols (270-289 mg/100 g). beta-Sitosterol,
Delta5-avenasterol, and campesterol are predominant.