Spikenard

Etymology

The name nard is derived from Latin nardus, from Ancient Greek (nárdos), from (nērd). This word may ultimately derive either from Sanskrit नलद (nálada 'Indian spikenard'), or from Naarda, an ancient Assyrian city (possibly the modern town of Dohuk, Iraq). The "spike" in the English name refers to the inflorescence or flowering stem of the plant.

Description

Nardostachys jatamansi is a flowering plant of the honeysuckle family that grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. In bloom, the plant grows to about 1 meter (3 ft) in height and has small, pink, bell-shaped flowers. It is found at an altitude of about 3000 to. Its rhizomes can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic, amber-colored essential oil with a thick consistency.

Oil constituents

Nard oil is used as a perfume, an incense, and in Ayurvedic practices. Sesquiterpenes contribute to the major portion of the volatile compounds, with the eponymous jatamansone (also known as (-)-valeranone) being dominant. Many coumarins are also present in the oil. The alkaloid actinidine has been isolated from the oil, and valerenal alongside valerenic acid (formerly called nardal and nardin respectively). Among the other phytochemical products found in the rhizomes are: nardostachysin, a terpenoid ester; nardostachnol; nardostachnone; jatamansic acid and jatamansinone.

History

In ancient Rome, nardus was used to flavor wine, and occurs frequently in the recipes of Apicius. During the early Roman empire, nardus was the main ingredient of a perfume (unguentum nardinum).

Pliny's Natural History lists several species of nardus used in making perfume and spiced wine: Indian nard, a stinking nard called 'ozaenitidos' which is not used, a false nard ('pseudo-nard') with which true nard is adulterated, and several herbs local to Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean which are also called nardus, namely Syrian nard, Gallic nard, Cretan nard (also called 'agrion' or 'phun'), field nard (also called 'bacchar'), wild nard (also called 'asaron'), and Celtic nard. Celtic nard is the only species Pliny mentions which he does not describe when listing the species of nard in book 12 of Natural History suggesting it is synonymous with another species, probably with the species Pliny refers to as 'hirculus', a plant Pliny attests to growing in the same region as Gallic nard and which he says is used to adulterate Gallic nard. Both are widely assumed to be cultivars or varieties of Valeriana celtica. Gentner suggests that hirculus may be Valeriana saxatilis L., which, like Valeriana celtica, has a camphor-like odour, but it is less pleasant.

Indian nard refers to Nardostachys jatamansi, stinking nard possibly to Allium victorialis, false nard to Lavandula stoechas, Syrian nard to Cymbopogon nardus, Gallic nard to Valeriana celtica, Cretan nard to Valeriana italica (syn. V. dioscoridis, V. tuberosa), and wild nard to Asarum europaeum. Field nard, or 'bacchar', has not been conclusively identified and must not be confused with species now called "baccharises" referring to species native to North America. The English botanist John Hill mentions that a plant described by Dioscorides as baccharis may refer to ploughman's-spikenard.

Culture

Spikenard is mentioned in the Bible as being used for its fragrance.

In the Iberian iconographic tradition of the Catholic Church, the spikenard is used to represent Saint Joseph. The Vatican has said that the coat of arms of Pope Francis includes the spikenard in reference to Saint Joseph.

Nard (Italian ) is also mentioned in the Inferno of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy: ma sol d’incenso lagrime e d’amomo, e nardo e mirra son l’ultime fasce. |2=He tastes, but tears of frankincense alone And odorous amomum: swaths of nard And myrrh his funeral shroud.}} Spikenard is also mentioned as an herb protecting Saint Thecla from wild beasts in the apocryphal text The Acts of Paul and Thecla.

References

References

1. (January 2024). "''Nardostachys jatamansi'': Phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities: A comprehensive review". Fitoterapia.
2. (November 2021). "A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and the analytical methods of the genus ''Nardostachys''". Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
3. (November 2019). "Medicinal plants of the Bible—revisited". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
4. Pliny]]'s time, blossoms of the Nardus sold for a hundred Roman [[denarius. denarii]] (or L.3 2s. 6d.) the pound. This Lavender or Nardus was called {{lang. la. asarum by the Romans, because it was not used in garlands or chaplets. It was formerly believed that the asp, a dangerous kind of viper, made Lavender its habitual place of abode, so that the plant had to be approached with great caution."
5. (2000). "Dangerous tastes: the story of spices". British Museum Press.
6. (2015). "A review article on phytochemistry and pharmacological profiles of Nardostachys jatamansi DC-medicinal herb". Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
7. (November 2013). "Revised structures of nardal and nardin: identity with valerenal and valerenic acid.". Natural Product Communications.
8. (1 November 2000). "Structure and Stereochemistry of Nardostachysin, a New Terpenoid Ester Constituent of the Rhizomes of ''Nardostachys jatamansi''". Journal of Natural Products.
9. ""Nardinus"".
10. "Apicius; De Re Coquinaria". Nemeton.
11. "Naturalis Historia; Book 12". Perseus.
12. "Naturalis Historia; Book 14". Perseus.
13. "Naturalis Historia; Book 21". Perseus.
14. Gentner, Georg. (1932). "Einiges über den Speik". Jahrbuch des Vereins zum Schutze der Alpenpflanzen.
15. Hill, John. (1771). "Virtues of British Herbs. With the History, Description, and Figures of the several Kinds". London: Printed for R. Baldwin.
16. "Lo Stemma di Papa Francesco". [[L'Osservatore Romano]].
17. (18 March 2013). "Vatican releases Pope Francis' coat of arms, motto and ring". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
18. (18 March 2013). "Pope stresses simplicity, ecumenism in inaugural Mass plans". [[National Catholic Reporter]].
19. Dante Alighieri. (1845). "The Vision, Or, Hell, Purgatory and Paradise of Dante Alighieri". D. Appleton & Company.
20. "Thecla → Paul and Thecla, Acts of".