influenza and fever.
The seeds contain glycosinolates
(the derivatives are responsible for tox icity) The concentration of the major
glucosinolate, gluco-napin, varies from
0.64 to 1.8% in the oil-free meal of Indian brassicas. The glucosinolates in rapeseed meal split upon enzymatic hydrolysis to produce glucose, potassium, hydrogen sulphate and a sulphur- containing compound which undergoes intramolecular rearrangement to give rise to the antinutritional factors, isothiocyanates or thiocyanates.
The volatile oil of mustard is given internally in colic; in overdoses it is highly poisonous and produces gastroenteric inflammations. It is employed externally as a liniment for rheumatic pains.
Adulteration of mustard oil with argemone oil (Argemone mexicana is frequently found growing in brassica fields), by accident or by design, has led to the widespread epidemics of dropsy and glaucoma due to an alkaloid sanguinarine.
Black mustard contains sinigrin, which on hydrolysis by enzyme my- rosin, produces ailyisothiocynate; the white mustard contains sinalbin, which produces p-hydroxybenzyl isothiocynate. Mucilage contains sinapine.
Dosage Seed—500 mg to 1 g paste. (API Vol. III.)
Brassica juncea
(Linn.) Czern. & Coss.
Family Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
English Chinese Mustard, Brown Mustard.
Ayurvedic Raajikaa, Aasuri Raai, Tikshnagandhaa.
Siddha/Tamil Kadugu.
Folk Raai
Action Raai is a substitute for Mustard. Antidysenteric, stomachic, diaphoretic, anthelmintic. Increases pancreatic secretions. A decoction of seeds is given in indigestion, cough. Used externally as a counter-irritant in several complaints of nervous systems.
Brassica napus Linn.
Family Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat Cultivated in Punjab, Bengal and Bihar.
English Mustard, Indian Rape.
