Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Je Zi (Semen Sinapis albae)

Je Zi or Bai Je Zi is also known as white mustard seed, the warm, acrid and toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat cough, asthmatic, pain in limbs and joints, migrating sores, emphysema, leaching pleurisy, neuralgia, etc., as it warms the Lungs, eliminates Phlegm, moves Qi, disperses nodules Promotes circulation in the channels by enhancing the functions of lung and stomach channels.
Ingredients
1. Sinalbin
2.Myrosin
3. Sinapine
4. 4-hydroxybenzoylcholine
5. 4-hydroxybenzylamine
6. Glucosinalbin
7. Sinapinrhodanide
8. Fatty acid
9. Polysaccharides
10. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Liver cancer
Glucoraphasatin and myrosinase were isolated and purified from Daikon sprouts and Sinapis alba L, has demonstrated the activity as a potent inducer of hepatic enzymes involved in the detoxification of chemical carcinogens, according to the study of “4-Methylsulfanyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate derived from glucoraphasatin is a potent inducer of rat hepatic phase II enzymes and a potential chemopreventive agent” by Abdull Razis AF, De Nicola GR, Pagnotta E, Iori R, Ioannides C.(1)
2. Antioxidants
Bai Jie Zi (Mustard Seed) has decreased plasma levels of the lipid peroxidation product malonaldehyde in mice exposed to the colon cancer-inducer azoxymethane (AOM) and reduced formation of colon adenomas by about 50%, according to the study of “Mustard seeds (Sinapis Alba Linn) attenuate azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis” by Yuan H, Zhu M, Guo W, Jin L, Chen W, Brunk UT, Zhao M(2)
3. Asthma
Plasters made up of Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui), Baijiezi (Semen Sinapis Albae), Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae), Xixin (Herba Asari), etc. were applied to Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Pishu (BL 20) Shenshu (BL 23), etc. has exerted the effectively improve asthma patients’ clinical symptoms, lower serum IgE and Eos count and raise LTR, according to the study of”[A study on the time-effect relationship in the treatment of bronchial asthma with medicinal vesiculation therapy]. [Article in Chinese]“ by Zhuang LX, Zhao MH, Yang JJ, Deng QP.(3)
4. Calcium-rich drinks
A calcium-soluble protein isolate (CSPI) was prepared from the supernatant obtained after addition of 0.75 M calcium chloride to a pH 5.0 aqueous extract of yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal may be the next generation used to prepare calcium-fortified high protein liquid products, according to the study of “Characterization of a calcium-soluble protein fraction from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal with potential application as an additive to calcium-rich drinks” by Aluko RE, Reaney M, McIntosh T, Ouellet F, Katepa-Mupondwa F.(4)
5. Prostatic hyperplasia
Sinalbin and beta-sitosterol separated from seeds of Brassica alba (Bai JIe Zi) significantly inhibit mice prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate and activity of serum acid phosphatase, according to the study of “[An experimental study(II) on the inhibition of prostatic hyperplasia by extract of seeds of Brassica alba][Article in Chinese]” by Wu GX, Lin YX, Ou MR, Tan DF.(5)
6. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Allergic effects or occupational allergen as a result of the presence of predominant allergenic protein Sin a 1, according to the study of “Quantitative detection of allergenic protein Sin a 1 from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay” by Shim YY, Wanasundara JP(a)
2. External use in a prolonged period can cause inflammation
3. Do not use the herb, if you are pregant or breast feeding without consulting with the related field specialist.
4. Etc.