- Lachrymation
- The process of producing tears.
- Lactones
- Phytochemicals found in kava kava that protect the body against cancer by eliminating carcinogens.
- Lance-shaped
- Oval and pointed at both ends, and usually referring to the shape of a leaf.
- Lanolin
- A thick, sticky fat obtained from sheep’s wool used to soften and nourish the skin.
- Legume
- A fruit consisting of one carpel and opening on one side, as a pea.
- Lenticel
- The spongy area of bark on woody plants that allows exchange of gases between the stem and the atmosphere.
- Leucorrhea
- A vaginal discharge containing mucus and pus cells.
- Lichen
- a fungus growing in symbiotic union with an alga.
- Lignin
- A non-carbohydrate constituent of fiber that forms protective and structural components of plant cell walls; a complex plastic-like material (polymer) that is very insoluble and resistant to chemical breakdown.
Crude fiber that remains after acid digestion of plant materials is primarily lignin. Unlike carbohydrate-based fiber, lignin is not degraded by digestive enzymes or gut microbes, but passes through the digestive tract intact. It does have important effects on the digestive tract, however. Lignin decreases the risk of constipation by increasing the movement of stools and by binding bile salts. This is believed to minimize microbial degradation of these substances and hence decrease exposure of the intestine to toxic derivatives.
Decreased exposure is believed to lower the risk of colon cancer. By binding both bile salts and cholesterol and moving them out of the body as feces, blood cholesterol levels may be lowered, decreasing the risk of heart disease. Excessive fiber, including lignin, can block mineral absorption. Certain lignin constituents released by the intestine are modified in the body and apparently interact with tissues, weakly mimicking the effects of estrogen. Lignin may have a therapeutic role in lowering the risk of breast cancer.
- Ligulet
- A narrow projection from the top of a leaf sheath in grasses.
- Liniment
- A liquid preparation, usually oily, for rubbing on or applying to the skin for sprains and bruises.
- Linnaeus, Carl
- Also called Carl Linne; a Swedish botanist who developed the method of classifying plant life.
In 1753, at the age of forty-six, he produced one of the most outstanding botanical works of all time, entitled Linnaeus on Species Plantarum. In this work, he organized the basic divisions into which plant life is divided. The science of taxonomy (naming of plants) has expanded since then, but has basically remained the same as he set out.
An example of the application of the Linnaean system is Peppermint (Mentha piperita).
- Kingdom: Plant
- Division: Angiospermae (The flowering plants which include more than 250,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees.)
- Class: Dicotyledoneae (Characterized by seeds having two cotyledons. There are approximately 48 orders and 289 families.)
- Order: Tubiflorae (which contain 26 families with many important medicinal species usually with order names that end in -ales as in Papaverales, the order that contains the California poppy).
- Family: Labiatae (Lamiaceae) (This family contains approximately 200 genera and 3,000 species, with family names usually ending in -aceae.
- Genus: Mentha (comprised of 25 species with many hybrids. The genus name should be capitalized and either in italics or underlined).
- Species: Mentha piperit Linnaeus (Peppermint) (The binomial is followed by the name of the botanist who first characterized the species).
- Lipoic Acid
- A phytochemical found in many plant foods.
It is a potent antioxidant that eliminates heavy metals from the body, protects against cancer and heart disease, normalizes blood sugar levels, and slows ageing. Lipoic acid is a key factor in energy production.
- Liquid Paraffin
- A mineral oil that is not absorbed by the skin and used in barrier creams.
- Lithontryptic
- Having the quality or used for dissolving or destroying stones in the bladder or kidney.
- Liverwort
- Any of various small, flat bryophytes, usually found on logs, rocks, or soil in moist areas.
- Lotion
- An emollient emulsion, usually of the water in oil type.
- Lozenge
- A sweetened medicated tablet that is dissoved in the mouth and designed to soothe the throat.
- Lycopod
- Club moss.
