Herself's Houseplants

Their study, published in the Oct. 4 issue of the journal PLoS ONE, provides a three-dimensional snapshot of the enzyme basil Eugenol Synthase frozen in mid-action as it produces eugenol, the fragrant molecule responsible for basil’s spicy overtones reminiscent of cloves and cinnamon.“This particular enzyme is very interesting since it belongs to a large family of enzymes that perform what we call ‘household reactions’ but, through evolutionary selection, acquired an additional and completely new function,” says Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Joseph P. Noel, Ph.D, director of the Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology and Proteomics, who led the study.“Eugenol Synthase takes a basic building block that is usually employed to make wood and turns it into something that is almost the complete opposite of wood – a volatile molecule that easily becomes airborne, is highly aromatic and possesses antimicrobial and pain-dulling properties,” marvels Noel. . . . [ read more How basil gets its zing]

The scent that make your basil smell and taste so wonderful is one of many scents plants use to attract bees and butterflies for pollination, and use to scare off critters that might find the plant tasty. It would seem the basil plant missed on that part, since we all find basil so tasty. Eugenol rich plants, like basil and cloves help preserve food and often have antiseptic properties.

Scientists hope to learn enough to be able to produce these enzymes with out the plants to use in food production and to better understand how and why plants evolved into todays versions of themselves.

PLoS One, Structure and Reaction Mechanism of Basil Eugenol Synthase

Growing herbs indoors is a challenge. Herbs need lots and lots of light. Even the sunniest house window is often too dark for them.

But if you can get light to your herbs they will thrive as well inside as out.

I was window shopping a month or so ago and wandered into a cooking store. They had a set up with herbs thriving growing inside of gel and water with bright fluorescent lights over them. The set up looked a bit clunky but the idea was good.

So I picked up a bright fluorescent light at the big box hardware store, tossed some soil and worm castings into a couple of pots and tossed herb seeds on top. The picture is how they look a month later. The lemon basil and lime basil are going to town. The chives are a bit slower getting going but doing well all the same.

If you wish to grow herbs indoors you need a very bright window, or a very bright fluorescent light. The rest is easy.

See also:
Dish gardens in stainless steel bowls
7 tips to grow herbs from seeds indoors

More information:
For a refreshing break, try growing mints