The efficacy and function of Brassica rapa

Brassica rapa seed is a very good medicinal material. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients. It has extremely high medicinal value. Let us learn about several aspects of Brassica rapa seed.

【English name】 Seeds of Bird Rape

[Alias] Rapeseed.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The seeds of Brassica campestris L., a cruciferous plant.

[Original form] Rapeseed is a biennial herb, 30-90cm tall. Hairless, slightly powdery. Stem erect, stout, without branches or stalks. The basal leaves are 10-20cm long, pinnately divided, with round or ovate apical lobes and 5 pairs of ovate lateral lobes; the lower stem leaves are pinnately cleft, with expanded and clasping base, with stiff hairs and ciliate margins on both sides; the upper stem leaves are violin-shaped or oblong-lanceolate, with a cordate base, clasping the stem, with drooping ears on both sides, and entire or wavy fine teeth. The raceme grows at the top of the branches and is corymbose during flowering; there are 4 sepals, yellow with green; there are 4 petals, bright yellow, obovate or round, 3-5mm long, with short claws at the base; there are 6 stamens, 4 long and 2 short, the long stamens are 8-9mm, the short stamens are 6-7mm, and the filaments are thin and linear; the ovary is cylindrical, 10-11mm long, gradually tapering at the top, with a distinct style and a stigma swollen into a head shape. The silique is linear, 3-8 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, with a 9-24 mm beak at the tip; the fruit pedicel is 5-15 mm long. The seeds are spherical, about 1.5mm in diameter, reddish brown or black, and nearly spherical. The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruiting period is from April to June.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: For cultivated plants, it prefers fertile and moist land.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The seeds are nearly spherical, with a diameter of 1.5-2mm. The surface is reddish brown or brown-black, and has a reticular texture when observed under a magnifying glass, with a black dot-shaped hilum at one end. When the seed coat is broken, there are two cotyledons inside, which are thick, milky yellow, rich in oil, and folded relative to each other along the midrib. The radicle is located between the two longitudinally folded cotyledons. Slight odor, light taste. The best ones are those with full grains and bright color.

[Chemical composition] Brassica rapa seeds contain glucose isothiocyanate components: gluconapin, glucobrassicanapin, progoitrin; also contain fatty oil, protein, rutin; brassicasterol, 22-dehydro-campesterol and a large amount of alanine, valine, aspartic acid, lysine, methionine, etc.; also contain phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, erucic acid, arabinogalactan, etc.

【Pharmacological action】 1. Antibacterial effect: It has a certain inhibitory effect on Gram-positive cocci.

[Identification] Physical and chemical identification: Take 1g of powder, put it in a hard test tube, add 1 small grain of sodium hydroxide, heat it on an alcohol lamp, cool it, add 2ml of water to dissolve it, and filter it. Take 1 ml of the filtrate and add 5% hydrochloric acid to acidify it. Hydrogen sulfide will be produced and it will appear shiny brown-black when it comes into contact with freshly prepared lead acetate test paper. Take another small grain of sodium nitrosoferricyanide, place it on a white porcelain plate, add 1-2 drops of water to dissolve it, add 1-2 drops of the above filtrate, and it will turn purple-red. (Check for isothiocyanates)

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; sweet; neutral

【Meridian】 Liver; Kidney

【Functions and indications】Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis; reduce swelling and resolve stagnation; moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. Mainly used for postpartum lochia retention; abdominal pain due to blood stasis; dysmenorrhea; intestinal bleeding; bloody diarrhea; rheumatic joint swelling and pain; carbuncle erysipelas; breast carbuncle; constipation; adhesive intestinal obstruction

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 5-10g; or made into pills or powder. For external use: take appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply on the affected area.

【Note】 Do not take this medicine if you have Yin-blood deficiency or loose stools.

[Additional prescription] 1. Yuncai San (from "Chanru Jiyan"), is used to treat retained lochia after delivery, stabbing pain in the heart caused by blood clots, and various heart and abdominal diseases after delivery. 2. Yuntai San (from "Shiyi Dexiao Fang"), is used to treat postpartum blood and qi rushing to the heart, leading to unconsciousness. 3. Recipe for treating headache (Shenghuifang): Mash Brassica rapa seeds and Sichuan rhubarb, take a small amount and blow it into the nose. 4. Zhili San (Shenghui Fang): Brassica rapa seeds and licorice, mash them into powder and decoct them in water. Treats wind poison in the large intestine and continuous bleeding.

[Discussions by various scholars] 1. "Qian Jin·Food Treatment": It mainly causes spermatorrhea in dreams.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above is a brief introduction to Brassica rapa seeds. Through this we can understand that Brassica rapa seeds contain a variety of nutrients, which are very effective in treating and preventing some diseases. In daily life, everyone can eat it under the guidance of relevant people.