Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin – A Food and Drug Used in the Unani System of Medicine

Abstract

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to traditional medicine. Medicinal plants have been used traditionally in India for the management of various ailments of the body. Nutraceuticals have received considerable interest because of their presumed safety and potential nutritional and therapeutic effects. Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin syn. Raphanus sativus L. (radish) is an edible plant. It is grown and consumed throughout the world for its culinary and medicinal properties. In the Unani system of medicine, a detailed description is given about the health benefits of radish and its use as a food and medicine. All the parts of the plant including root are utilized in the Unani system of medicine as a single drug in various dosage forms or as one of the ingredients of polyherbal or herbo-mineral formulation for the management of various ailments, particularly for liver and kidney disorders. With recent researches, it has been attributed with several pharmacological properties. It contains flavonoid, saponin, tannin, glycosides, steroids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals which indicate its medicinal and nutritional value. Radish has numerous pharmacological activities but comparatively little number of studies have been conducted on its nutritional aspect. Hence, we wish to explore the important health effects of R. raphanistrum in the light of Unani medicine.