Key application In peptic disorders, especially those related to dyskinesia of the bile ducts; and in catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the juice of the whole plant in sinusitis; juice of the root in diseases of the throat and sinusitis; and the seed in amenorrhoea, cough and dyspnoea.
The fleshy root and seeds contain trans-4-methyl-thiobutenyl isothiocyanate glucoside (the pungent principle), cyanidin-5-glucoside-3-sophoro-
538 Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz.
side, pelargonidin diglycoside, cyani di diglycoside, 5-methyl-L-cysteine-
suiphoxide (methiin), steroidal sa pogenin and suiphorophene.
The enzymes present in the radish
are phosphatase, catalase, sucrase,
amylase, alcohol dehydrogenase and
pyruvic carboxylase.
Radish contains caffeic acid and fer uli acid which exhibit hepatoprotec tiv and choleretic properties. It con tain choline which prevents deposi tio of fat in liver. Amino acids, or nithine citrulline, arginine, glutamic
acid and asparatic acid remove toxins
from the body and urea acumulation.
Radish is a good source of ascorbic
acid (15—40 mg!100 g), trace elements
include aluminium, barium, lithium,
manganese, silicon, titanium, also io din (upto 18 mcg!100 g) and ascor bigen. Roots, leaves, flowers and pods are
active against Gram-positive bacteria.
The seeds are reported to contain
a broad spectrum antibiotic, machro R lysin, specific against Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. Raphanin, extracted from
the seeds, is active against Gram-
positive and Gram negative bacteria.
A purified basic protein, homolo gou to nonspecific lipid transfer pro teins from seeds showed antifungal ac tivity. Raphanus caudatus Linn., synonym
