Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Synonyms —
Arabis chinensis
Rottlerex Wight.,
Cardamon sativum
(L.) Fourr.,
Nasturtium
crispum
Medik.,
Thlaspi sativum
( L.) Cra ntz.
Family —
Brassicaceae
Common Name —
Garden cress
African Names —
Hausa: lafsur; Soto: umatholisa; Zulu: umathoyisa
Description —
This is an annual herb, erect, smooth, with distinguished leaf size and shape.
The majority of the leaves are deeply lobed with linear segments. It has small white flowers borne
on common stalks. The fruits are ellipsoid, compressed, notched at the top, and slightly winged
toward the apex and enclose oval-shaped brown or red seeds. Three varieties of the herb (red, white,
and black) exist.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The whole herb, especially the seeds, is used for the treatment of bac-
terial and fungal infections. The soaked seeds, which are mucilaginous, are valued as a remedy for
diarrhea and dysentery and externally as a liniment and for dressing sores in camels and horses. The
soup is used in the treatment of bronchitis and cough and as a poison antidote. A related species,
L.
myriocarpum
Sond, is used as a vegetable for cooking.
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Constituents —
Lepidium
leaves yield about 0.12% volatile oil, known as cress oil. The major
constituents of the oil are phenylacetonitrile and aromatic isothiocyanates. The seeds also contain
similar compounds. Alkaloids, terpenes, and saponins are present in the herb.
Pharmacological Studies —
The volatile oil has been shown to inhibit the growth of
Bacillus
subtilis
and
Staphylococcus aureus
.
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The active constituents, the benzyisothiocyanates, were
excreted intact in the urine within an hour of ingestion. The herb also exerts antitoxic activity.
720
It has been shown to be a good model for the assay of phytotoxic compounds.
721
A member of the
genus,
L. capitatum,
has been effective as a postcoital contraceptive.
722
LONCHOCARPUS CYANESCENS
Botanical Name —
Lonchocarpus cyanescens
(Schum. & Thonn.) Benth.
