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Botany
Labanos is a coarse, annual crop plant. Roots are fleshy, pungent
and variable in size and form. Leaves are roughly hairy, the lower ones lyrate. Flowers are variable, about 1.5 centimeters long, usually white
or lilac, with purple veins, sepals erect, lateral ones saccate
at the base. Pod is inhehiscent, lanceolate, cylindrical, and 2 to 2.6 centimeters in length, and terminates in a long beak. Seeds are separated by pith.
Distribution
- Widely cultivated in the Philippines at all altitudes.
Parts utilized
· Whole plant.
· When seeds are ripe, harvest the whole plant, sun-dry, remove
the seeds and dry again. Crush on use. Roots can also be sun-dried for
use.
Properties
· Considered anthelmintic,
antifungal, antibacterial, antiscorbutic, diuretic, laxative, tonic,
carminative, corrective, stomachic, cholagogue, lithotriptic, emmenagogue.
· The juice of the fresh root is considered powerfully antiscorbutic.
· Roots considered carminative and corrective.
· Flowers considered becnic and cholagogue.
· Seeds considered diuretic, laxative, stimulant, and lithotriptic.
· In Iranian traditional medicine, seeds are considered diuretic
carminative, antifever, antitussive and gastric tonic. Study yielded
ten isothiocyanates, seven aliphatic hydrocarbons and some volatile
substances.
Constituents
• Phytochemical study yielded triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids,
tannins, saponin and coumarins.
• Study for volatile constituents yielded 10 isothicyanates, seven aliphatic hydrocarbons and some other volatile substances.
• Root yields raphanol, rettichol, volatile oil, methylmercaptan, vitamins B1, sinapin and oxydase.
• Seeds yield fatty oil (30%), ash (3.5%), volatile oil, sulphuric acid, erucic acid and C8H15NS2.
 Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
Leaves, flowers, roots,
and seeds are edible.
A popular, common, and inexpensive vegetable, eaten raw or cooked.
Young leaves are also eaten raw or cooked.
Excellent source of iron and good source of calcium; also a source of
vitamin B.
Folkloric
· For diarrhea: boil
the fresh leaves to concentrated decoction and drink.
· Juice of leaves increases the flow of urine and promotes bowel
movements.
· Juice of fresh leaves also used as laxative; also for dropsy and general anasarca.
· Root considered stimulant; also used for piles and stomach pains.
· Juice used to expel wind from the bowels.
· Juice of fresh roots considered antiscorbutic.
· Roots are crushed and applied locally as dressing or poultice for burns, scalds, ecchymoses, or fetid or smelly
feet.
· Decoction of root used for fevers.
· Decoction of roots used to bring out the rash in eruptive fevers.
· Coughs: Decoction of flowers; or, boil 6 to 15 gms seed preparation
to decoction and drink.
· Seeds promote the flow of urine, bowel movements, and menstruation.
· Seeds used for cancer of the stomach.
· For patients with edema, bloated belly (ascites), pale yellowish
face, and oliguria: used dried root preparation with citrus rind preparation
(5:1 proportion). Boil to a concentrated decoction and drink.
Others
· Repellent
Studies
• Histaminergic
/ Spasmolytic:
Pharmacological basis for the gut stimulatory activity of Raphanus sativus
leaves: A study on the crude extracxt of RS leaves showed the presence
of a histaminergic component plus a weak spasmolytic factor supporting
its traditional use for constipation.
• Toxicity Report: Severe Toxic Hepatitis Provoked by Squeezed Black Radish
(Raphanus Sativus) Juice - Case Report: Cited in phytotherapy
literature as a plant with hepatoprotective properties, this reports
a severe toxic hepatitis from use of black radish extract to dissolve
bile duct stone.
• Hepatoprotective: (1)
Studies on Raphanus sativus as Hepatoprotective Agents (Thesis): Results
showed the ethanolic extract of RS contain hepatoprotective constituents.
(2) Study of crude powder of Raphanus sativus leaves reduced the risk of liver damage by paracetamol.
• Antiurolithiatic
Activity / Diuretic: Study of aqueous extract
of the bark of RS on rats showed a significant decrease in the weight
of stones. Study also showed an increase in 24 hour urine volume compared
to control.
• Water Phenol
Decontamination: Decontamination of Water Polluted with
Phenol Using Raphanus sativus Root: Plant materials have been used in
decontamination of water polluted with phenolic compounds. The study
used RS roots (root juice and pieces). Results showed good phenol removal
from aqueous solutions with cut R sativus root and juice.
•
Antioxidant / Lipid Peroxidation Inhibition:
Study of methanol extract of RS showed inhibition of lipid peroxidation
in vivo and in vitro, providing protection by strengthening antioxidants
like glutathione and catalase. Results suggest inclusion of the plant
in every day diet may be beneficial.
•
Phytochemicals / Toxicity Studyt / Hepatoprotective Activity:
Study of showed carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity
was reduced by the plant as showed by inhibition of increased liver
enzyme activities and bilirubin concentration together with histopath
changes. Toxicity study showed no adverse effect on livers. Phytochemical
studies yielded triterpenes, alklaoids, flavanoids, tannins, saponins
and coumarins.
•
Phytochemicals / Gastroprotective: Study of
the freshly squeezed radish juice for its anti-gastric ulcer activity
in experimental models showed it possessed gastroprotective potential
related to mucus secretion stimulation and an increase in nonproteinsulfhydryl
(NP-SH) concentration, probably due to prostaglandin-inducing abilities
mediated through antioxidant activity. Phytochemicals study yielded
flavonoids, anthocyanins and sufurated constituents.
• Antioxidant / Choleretic: Study of extract from radish sprouts in rats showed antioxidant properties and significantly induced bile flow.
• Anti-Diabetic: Study showed that the sprouts of Japanese radish has the potential to alleviate hyperglycemia and may serve i the primary prevention of diabetes mellitus.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Commercial cultivation; ubiquitous in market places. |
