Brassica juncea

Scientific name: Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.

Synonym: Brassica integrifolia (H. West) Rupr.

Synonym 2: Brassica besseriana Andrz. ex Trautv.

Botanical family: BRASSICACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Guadeloupe:

moutad
moutarde

Other vernacular names

Colombia:

mostaza

Guadeloupe:

moutarde (moutad)

Geographical distribution

Probably native to Asia, rare from Mexico to Panama and common in the temperate parts of North America.

Botanical description

Herbaceous annual up to 1 m. Large lower leaves, broadly oblong or obovate with serrated margins, the upper leaves are cauline, simple, narrower, lobed, dentate or entire, short petioles or sessile. Bright yellow flowers of 7 to 10 mm. Fruit in the form of a pod 4 to 7 cm long, dark brown seeds up to 2 mm in diameter.

Voucher(s)

Balz, Boyer,Buraud,1,INRA

The leaves and root of Brassica juncea are a food of relatively widespread human consumption.

For emotional shock:
prepare an infusion by adding 2 cups (½ litre) of boiling water to 4 grams of fresh leaves. Cover the container, leave to stand for 5 minutes, strain (filter) and drink for one day¹.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours or unrefrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for emotional shock is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity and validation studies.

TRAMIL Works^6-7

The aqueous extract (infusion, 0.45 g/ml) from fresh leaves, orally, 5 g/kg/5 days, with 12 additional days of observation, in Hsd:ICR mice (5 males and 5 females) of 23.1 ± 1.1 g and 2 g/kg/28 days with 41 additional days of observation in 20 mice (10 males and 10 females) of the same strain (19.82 ± 0.98 g), with control groups, water (0.3 ml/20 g mouse) in mice with the same characteristics; none of the tests showed mortality, signs of toxicity (Irwin multidimensional test) or changes in body weight more than normal on the growth curve. The macroscopic autopsy showed no alterations in the organs.

No data are available to recommend their medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children.

The fresh aerial parts contain the alkaloid: indole-3-acetonitrile².

The fresh leaf contains carotenoids: antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, crocetin, carotene, neoxanthin and lutein³.

The fresh leaf contains phenylpropanoid: N-propyl benzene, benzenoids: phenyl, 2-ethanol and phenyl, 2-ethyl cyanide; C4 alcohols: allyl cyanide, allyl thiocyanate, 3-butenyl and 3-butenyl-isothiocyanate; one C5 alcohol: cis-3-hexenol; C5 aldehydes: trans-2-hexenal and 2,4-heptadienal; C5 alkanes: hexadecane and pentadecane, one C5 ketone: 2-hexanone; lipids: lauric acid, caproic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid; sulfate derivatives: 1-cyano-4, 5-epithiopentane, 3-methylthiopropyl cyanide, 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane, allyl isothiocyanate and sec-butyl isothiocyanate⁴.

TRAMIL Work⁵
The aqueous extract (infusion) (0.45 g/ml) from fresh leaves (2 g/ kg), orally in Hsd:ICR mice (5 males and 5 females of 22.25 ± 1.75 g) for 5 consecutive days and a control group with distilled water (0.1 ml/20 g mouse weight) in another 10 mice with the same characteristics. Decreased curiosity (p = 0.015) was obtained in the perforated plate test, but no sedative or sleep enhancement effect.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 BALZ E, BOYER A, BURAUD M, 2007
Enquête TRAMIL à Marie-Galante. U. Bordeaux 3, U. Paris XI Chatenay-Malabry et UAG, Guadeloupe.

2 WALL ME, TAYLOR H, PERERA P, WANI MC, 1988
Indoles in edible members of the Cruciferae. J Nat Prod 51(1):129-135.

3 TAKAGI S, 1985
Determination of green leaf carotenoids by HPLC. Agr Biol Chem 49(4):1211-1213.

4 UDA Y, MAEDA Y, 1986
Volatile constituents occurring in autolyzed leaves of three cruciferous vegetables. Agr Biol Chem 50(1):205-208.

5 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2010
Actividad sedante-tranquilizante, en ratones, de hoja fresca de Brassica juncea. Informe TRAMIL, Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

6 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2008
Toxicidad oral aguda, dosis repetida, en ratón, infusión de hoja fresca de Brassica juncea. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

7 PAZOS L, COTO T, CAIZA F, 2008
Toxicidad oral subcrónica, dosis repetida, 28 dias en ratón, infusión de hoja fresca de Brassica juncea. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

Warnings

*Warning regarding the combination:

the use of fresh Symphytum officinale (comfrey) leaf infusion is strongly discouraged as it is considered to be toxic.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Brassica juncea

Vernacular names

Guadeloupe:

Colombia:

Guadeloupe:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Warnings

Disclaimer