Brassica rapa

Scientific name: Brassica rapa L. subsp. rapa

Synonym: Brassica campestris L.

Botanical family: BRASSICACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominica:

turnip

Geographical distribution

Native to Eurasia. Widely cultivated in temperate regions.

Botanical description

Biennial herbaceous. Root typically globose or elongated, outer colour white, white with purple or yellowish. Almost no stem before it flowers. Leaves up to 30 cm long, glaucous, sometimes lyrate. Inflorescence stem with lobed leaves. Flowers with 4 yellow petals, arranged in corymbose clusters.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez,693,JBSD

bronchitis with expectoration

root, syrup (decoction + sugar), orally¹

The leaves and roots of Brassica rapa are a food of relatively widespread human consumption.

For bronchitis:

Prepare a syrup from a decoction with 50 grams of fresh root chopped in 2 cups (500 millilitres) of water, boil for 10 minutes in a covered container, add 850 grams of sugar and mix until a translucent solution is obtained, strain (filter) with the help of a clean cloth, pour into a container and fill with water up to 1 litre. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

The syrup must never be stored for more than 4 days unrefrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for bronchitis is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

Due to the health risk of bronchitis, an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the respiratory problem persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use by women intending to become pregnant, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, in children under 5 years of age or in patients with thyroid disease.

Contraindicated in people with diabetes.

Not to be used as a therapeutic resource for more than 7 consecutive days.

Avoid ingestion of the seeds as there is a risk of toxicity.

The aqueous root extract (infusion) showed strong antimutagenic activity in vitro (100 μl/disc, 0.1 ml/plate) in the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 model with metabolic activation against 2-aminoanthracene-induced mutagenicity; with the same concentration it was weakly antimutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium TA100 model against ethyl methanesulfonate-induced mutagenicity¹⁰.

The fresh root and leaf juice, in vitro, in the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 model (0.5 ml/plate), was inactive as a demutagenic11. The juice of the plant in the same model (0.1 ml/plate) was active12. The fresh plant juice in vitro (0.5 ml/plate) stimulated the activity of catalases and peroxidases and in the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 model; it was active as a demutagenic13.

There is evidence of toxic effects of the seed oil in different animals^14-17.

The root taken orally (9 g/day/26 days) in rats induced goitrogenic activity¹⁸.

The aqueous extract (decoction) of the root taken orally (441 g of root/person) in human adults caused an antithyroid effect¹⁹.

No data are available to recommend their medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children younger than 12 years of age.

The root contains the proteins: B-II arabinogalactan², S-methyl sulfoxide cysteine³; flavonoids: cyanine, rubrobrassicin⁴; vitamins: ascorbic acid⁵; sulfur compounds: glucobrassicin, progoitrin, gluconapine, gluconasturtiin and sinigrin⁶; alkaloid: allantoin⁷.

Proximate analysis of 100 g of the root⁸: calories: 21; water: 92.8%; protein: 1%; fat: 0.2%; carbohydrates: 4.4%; fibre: 0.8%; ash: 0.8%; calcium: 43 mg; phosphorus: 33 mg; iron: 0.9 mg; sodium: 60 mg; potassium: 281 mg; carotene: 20 μg; thiamine: 0.04 mg; riboflavin: 0.04 mg; niacin: 0.5 mg; ascorbic acid: 22 mg.

The in vitro aqueous root extract, in agar plate culture, against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis showed activity⁹.

The allantoin present in the root is attributed with immunostimulant action⁷.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 CHARLES C, 1988
TRAMIL survey. Movement for Cultural Awareness MCA, Roseau, Dominica.

2 TSUMURAYA Y, NAKAMURA K, HASHIMOTO Y, YAMAMOTO S, 1984
Immunological properties of arabinogalactan proteins from leaves of cruciferous plants. Agr Biol Chem 48(11):2915-2917.

3 GUSTINE DL, 1985
Determination of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide in Brassica extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 319(3):450-453.

4 IGARASHI K, ABE S, SATOH J, 1990
Effects of atsumi-kabu (red turnip, Brassica campestris L.) anthocyanin on serum cholesterol levels in cholesterol-fed rats. Agr Biol Chem 54(1):171-175.

5 YAO G, LI YJ, CHANG XQ, LU J, 1983
Vitamin C content in vegetables and fruits in Shenyang (China) market during four seasons. Yingyang Xuebao 5(4):373-379.

6 TAWFIQ N, HEANEY RK, PLUMB JA, FENWICK GR, MUSK SR, WILLIAMSON G, 1995
Dietary glucosinolates as blocking agents against carcinogenesis: glucosinolate breakdown products assessed by induction of quinone reductase activity in murine hepa1c1c7 cells. Carcinogenesis 16(5):1191-1194.

7 DUKE JA, 1992
Handbook of biologically active phytochemical constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.

8 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. p30.

9 EL-SAYED AM, EL-SAKHEWY FS, 1993
Furochromone and thiooxazolidone principles of Brassica rapa (Turnip). Az J Pharm Sco 11(6):11-20.

10 BADRIA FA, 1994
Is man helpless against cancer? An environmental approach: antimutagenic agents from Egyptian food and medicinal preparations. Cancer Lett 84(1):1-5.

11 MORITA K, HARA M, KADA T, 1978
Studies on natural desmutagens: Screening for vegetable and fruit factors active in inactivation of mutagenic pyrolysis products from amino acids. Agr Biol Chem 42(6):1235-1238.

12 KADA T, MORITA K, INOUE T, 1978
Anti-mutagenic action of vegetable factor(s) on the mutagenic principle of tryptophan pyrolysate. Mutat Res 53(3):351-353.

13 YAMAGUCHI T, YAMASHITA Y, ABE T, 1980
Desmutagenic activity of peroxidase on autoxidized linolenic acid. Agr Biol Chem 44(4):959-961.

14 KRAMER J, MAHADEVAN S, HUNT JR, SAUER FD, CORNER AH, CHARLTON KM, 1973
Growth rate, lipid composition, metabolism and myocardial lesions of rats fed rapeseed oils (Brassica campestris var. arlo, Echo and Span, and B. napus var. oro.) J Nutr 103(12):1696-1708.

15 KRAMER J, FRIEND D, HULAN H, 1975
Lipid changes in tissue of young boars fed rapeseed oil or corn oil. Nutr Metab 19(56):279-290.

16 KRAMER JK, HULAN HW, MAHADEVAN S, SAUER FD, CORNER AH, 1975
Brassica campestris var. span: II. Cardiopathogenicity of fractions isolated from span rapeseed oil when fed to male rats. Lipids 10(9):511-516.

17 GRANDHI RR, SLINGER SJ, SUMMERS JP, 1977
Productive performance and liver lesions in two strains of laying hens receiving two rapeseed meals. Poult Sci 56(6):1904-1908.

18 SARKAR SR, SINGH LR, UNIYAL BP, MUKHERJEE SK, NAGPAL KK, 1983
Effect of common vegetables on thyroid function in rats. A preliminary study. Def Sci J 33(4):317-321.

19 GREER MA, ASTWOOD EB, 1948
The antithyroid effect of certain foods in man as determined with radioactive iodine. Endocrinology 43:105-119.

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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