AGRICULTURE REPORT - Herbs

AGRICULTURE REPORT
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March 5, 2002: Herbs

By George Grow

This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.

Small plants called herbs have many uses. Some herbs are used in cooking to make foods taste better. Others are
used as medicines.

Now, a new study shows that many herbs used in cooking contain helpful chemicals
called anti-oxidants. Our bodies naturally produce oxidizing compounds¹. An anti oxidant
is one of many chemicals that reduce or prevent oxidation. This prevents
damage to cells and tissues² caused by atoms or molecules³ in the body called free
radicals⁴. Experts agree that oxidative damage causes many of the health problems
common to older adults.

The new study found that herbs have more anti-oxidant power than some common
fruits and vegetables. However, the strength of these anti-oxidants can depend on the
kind of herb and growing conditions.

In the new study, scientists from the United States and China tested herbs that were grown in the same area under
similar conditions. The scientists did their work at the National Arboretum⁵ in Washington, D.C. The United
States Department of Agriculture reported the findings⁶.

The scientists measured the ability of different kinds of herbs to fight oxidizing chemicals. They tested twenty-
seven herbs used in cooking. They also studied twelve herbs that are used as medicines.

The highest level of anti -oxidant activity was found in three kinds of oregano used in cooking. They are Mexican,
Italian and Greek mountain oregano. Their activity was stronger than the anti-oxidant Vitamin E. It was as strong
as a chemical called B-H-A, which is added to food to protect against fat oxidation.

Several other herbs also showed strong antioxidant activity. They include bay and dill. However, their strength
was about one-half to one-third as strong as that of the three kinds of oregano. Generally, the herbs used as
medicines were low in antioxidant activity. The scientists say this suggests that any health effects from such
herbs resulted mostly from other actions in the body.

The scientists say the antioxidant power of these herbs may be different, depending on where the plants are
grown. Yet they suspect that their findings would have been similar had the study been done in another area. That
is because of the substances found naturally in each kind of herb.

This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

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1 compounds   

n.场地( compound的名词复数 )；复合物；（筑有围墙的）院子；复合词v.调和( compound的第三人称单数 )；使混合；使严重；调停

参考例句：

• Nouns join to form compounds. 名词和名词结合构成复合词。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• That simply compounds the offence. 那只会加重罪过。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 tissues   

n.组织( tissue的名词复数 )；薄纸；棉纸；一套

参考例句：

• The teacher showed the students the pictures of brain tissues. 老师给学生们看脑组织的图片。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Give some face tissues to me. 给我些面巾纸。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

4 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

5 arboretum   

n.植物园

参考例句：

• We can go to the arboretum in the southern suburb.我们可以去南郊的植物园。
• The arboretum is full of exotic flowers and rare herbs.植物园里长满了各种奇花异草。

6 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。