Botany
A low herb, with leaves
shorter than the scape, cylindric, hollow, 8 mm diameter, narrowing
upward to a slender apex, shorter than the inflorescence. Scape is inflated,
about 30 cm high, 1 cm thick in the middle, narrowed at both ends. Stellate
flowers are numerous in a dense and rounded umbel, with pedicels 5 to
7 mm long. Perianth segments are oblong, acuminate, 5 to 6 mm long.
Filaments are longer than the petals.
Distribution
Cultivated as market produce.
Constituents
-Study isolated seven compounds from the ethanolic extract of seeds of A. cepa: tianshic acid, N-trans-feruloyl tyramine, beta-sitosterol-3 beta-glucopyranoside-6'-palmitate, sitosterol, daucosterol, tryptophane, and adenine riboside.
Properties
Carminative, demulcent,
diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, rubefacient, stimulant.
Juice is disinfectant, rejuvinative, antispasmodic.
Parts
used
Bulb.
Uses
Folkloric
- Bulb is emmenagogue,
stimulant, diuretic, expectorant; externally, is rubefacient.
- Mixed with common salt, is used for fever, catarrh, chronic bronchitis.
- Bulb applied as cooling poultice for boils, bruises, and wounds.
- Juice or slices of raw onion is applied to insect bites and stings
or burns.
- Juice of the bulb mixed with mustard oil or coconut oil is used for
rheumatic and inflammatory swellings.
- Onion and garlic juice used for nervousness, insomnia, and rheumatism:
3 tbsp daily.
- Juices of onion, garlic carrot, radish, garlic and lemon: Used for
bronchitis, asthma.
Others
- Peeled and eaten raw,
powdered, juiced, infused or decocted as tea, infused.
 Studies
• Antifertility:
The bulb of AC has yielded kampferol, B-sitosterol, ferulic acid, myritic
acid and prostaglandins. Study showed the ethanolic extract of Allium
cepa to possess antifertility activity through an antiimplantation mechanism
rather than antiovulatory effect.
• Hypouricemic / Antioxidant:
Study showed beneficial effects of Allium cepa and its major flavonoid
on hyperuricemia and oxidative stress.
• Neuroprotective:
Study showed protective effect of the methanolic extract of AC bulb
on ischemic and reperfusion-induced cerebral injury with reduced infarct
size and attenuated impairment of short-term memory and motor coordination.
• Vasorelaxant / Hypotensive:
Study showed the onion peel extract showed hypotensive and vasorelaxant
effects which could be due to the extract quercetin content, antioxidant
activity and inhibition of vascular smooth musch cell Ca++ influx.
• Antispasmodic:
Study showed onion peel extract inhibits ileum contractions without involving ß-adrenoreceptor, opioid receptor, nitric oxide production and potassium channels activation. Resuts suggests that the quercetin in the onion peel extract induces
spasmolytic effect via calcium channels.
• Antiplatelet activity:
In its raw form, onion is recognized to have antiplatelet activity from
its pyruvate content. Study showed the effects of heating. Heating for
46 mins completely suppresses in vitro antiaggregatory activity, For
benefits, it is better for onions to be eaten raw or only moderately
cooked. Extensive heating could result in pro-aggregatory effects.
• Hemolytic Anemia:
Study confirmed onion poisoning in dogs causes hemolytic anemia.
• Antioxidant:
Study showed A cepa had high superoxide-dismutase (SOD) activities in leaves and high peroxidase (P-ase) activity in all investigated organs.
• Anti-Allergy:
Study showed a herbal fraction (ALC-O) from A cepa bulb inhibited histamine release and attenuated intracellular calcium levels Compound 48/80-induced rat peritoneal mast cells. The results show a promising anti-allergic profile that could be attributed to potential antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
• Androgenic Activity:
Study showed freshly prepared onion juice significantly affected the sperm number, percentage of viability and motility.
• Hypoglycemic Activity:
Study showed crude Allium cepa produced hypoglycemic effects, and can be used as a dietary supplement inthe management of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Hair Growth / Alopecia Areata:
Study was done testing the effectiveness of topical crude onion juice in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata in comparison to tap water. Results showed the use of crude onion juice gave significantly higher results re hair re-growth than tap water. Results suggest it might be an effective topical therapy for patchy alopecia areata.
• Nephroprotective / Cadmium-Induced Renal Dysfunction:
Study showed exposure to heavy metal Cd causes renal dysfunction and oral administration of onion could prevent cadmium's adverse effects on renal functions.
Availability
Cultivated market
produce.
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