The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

Radish (Mula) is an annual herb of the cabbage family. It is a winter crop cultivated throughout the plains of Bangladesh. It is also cultivated in India and in temperate and warm countries. There are several varieties cultivated in our country-the large white, large long pale-pink, the small longish pale-pink, and the small round bright red. It is eaten raw as salad or cooked as vegetables. It is much relished for its pungent flavour and is considered an appetiser. The leaves are also boiled and eaten. Sometimes due to climatic or other conditions the crop is likely to be poor and produces very small or inferior roots. Then it is allowed to flower and produce pods, which are commonly known as mungra. These are also eaten raw or cooked as vegetable. It may be pointed out that radish produced in Bangladesh is almost tropical in its habit instead of temperate. It is often transplanted from one field to another, yielding its seed into second year. The root grows to an enormous size, sometimes as large as man's leg and rises partly above the ground like a stem.

The radish has also been tried successfully as a fodder crop in some countries like the U.K. and South Africa. In the latter country the giant radish of Japan has been grown for this purpose and yields of more than 60 tonnes/ha, of roots and 12-25 tonnes/ha, of leaves have been obtained. It is said to be relished by all animals and the characteristic pungent smell of the root is not imparted to the milk. In feeding value, radish is said to compare very favourably with any other root crop. The root and seed yield oils apparently similar to those obtained from other cruciferous plants. They have a most disagreeable odour, but they are said to be sometimes used for burning and for curinary purposes. Radish seed oil is colourless, heavier than water in which it dissolves pretty freely, contains a considerable quantity of sulphur. Non-drying radish fatty oil obtained from seeds is suitable for soap making, illuminating and edible purposes. The radish comes to harvest within 30-50 days of sowing and should be pulled out when the root reaches edible size and is still tender and crisp, as otherwise with delay it soon becomes tough, pithy, hollow and unpalatable.

Botanical name of Radish is Raphanus sativus Linn. All parts of this vegetable are necessary for human consumption. The leafy tops of radish are sometimes eaten as vegetable or fed to animals. They are highly nutritious, being a good source of vitamins and minerals. They are particularly rich in calcium, iron, and ascorbic acid and are also considererd to be one of the richest sources of vitamin A and vitamin C among the leafy vegetables. The leaves can constitute a good supplement to diets consisting mainly of rice. An analysis of per 100gms. edible leaves gave the following values: moisture, 94.6; mineral matter, 06; fibre, 1.0; calorie, 24 (energy), protein, 1.7; fat, 0.9; and carbohydrate, 2.3g./100g.; calcium, 28; iron, 3.6; vitamin B-1, 0.04; vitamin B-2, 0.09; vitamin C, 148mg./100g. and carotene (equivalent to vitamin A), 9,700ug/100g. On the other hand, root contains: moisture, 92.7; mineral matter, 0.5; fibre, 0.6; calorie, 28 (energy); protein, 1.3; fat, 0.1; carbohydrate, 5.4g./100g.; calcium, 10, iron, 0.5; vitamin B-1, 0.43 and vitamin C 34mg./100g. (Food Processes and Analyses, Mohammad Yunus, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, 46, 47). Moreover, the leaves of radish are a good source for the extraction of protein on a commercial scale.

Medicinal Properties: The radish has a hot, sharp, bitter taste; stomachic, binding, anthelmintic; destroys "vata;" good in tumours, piles, and all inflammations; useful in diseases of the heart, amenorrhea, hiccough, leprosy, cholera; the juice relieves carache. The flowers and bechic and cholagogue (Ayurveda). The root is useful for urinary complaints and piles. The seeds are sharp and bitter; laxative, tonic, emmenagogue, carminative; good for spleen and in paralysis; produce alopecia; mixed with wine they counteract the effects of the bites of snakes and other poisonous animals (Yunani).

Radish seeds are peptic, expectorant, diuretic, laxative, carminative, and corrective. In the Punjab they are considered to be emmenagogue (Stewart). The roots are used for urinary and syphilitic diseases; they are a reputed medicine for piles and gastrodynic pains. The juice of the fresh leaves is also used as a diuretic and laxative. The seeds are not an antidote to snake venom (Mhaskar and Caius). (Indian Medicinal Plants, Kirt, & B.D. Basu, Vol. I, 179,180)

Radish is credited with refreshing and depurative properties. Radish preparations are useful in liver and gall bladder troubles. In homoeopathy they are used for neuralgic headaches, sleeplessness and chronic diarrhoea. Roots, leaves, flowers and pods are active against Grampositive bacteria. The roots are said to be useful in urinary complaints, piles and in gastrodynia. A salt extracted from roots dried and burnt to white ash, is said to be used in stomach troubles. The juice of fresh leaves is used as diuretic and laxative. The seeds are said to be peptic, expectorant, diuretic and carminative (Wealth of India, Raw Materials, Raphanus, 371).

The seeds are considered diuretic, laxative, and lithontriptic. In the Punjab, they are also believed to have emmenagogic properties. The roots are used in native medicine for urinary and syphilitic diseases. In Bombay, the juice of the fresh leaves is used medicinally for the same purposes as the seeds.

Special Opinions: "The root of Raphanus sativas (the radish) is stimulant, diuretic, stomachic, and antilithic, and the seeds demulcent and diuretic. In full and repeated doses, the seeds produce vomiting sometimes, but this is so rare that they cannot be considered as an emetic. The juice of the radish is useful in dysuria and strangury, and also in some slight cases of ischuria and calculus in the bladder. Eaten before a meal the radish improves appetite, and increases the digestive power. The dry seeds of the radish are also useful in some slight cases of dysuria and strangury, but their action is rather uncertain and irregular. The juice of the radish is to be pressed out through a cloth by bruising it without water. The seeds are used in the form of a draught by bruising and rubbing them with water and straining the liquid through a cloth. The dose of the juice is from one ounce and a half to three ounces repeated frequently till the desired effect is produced; of the seeds from one to two drachms" (Honorary Surgeon Mooden Sheriff, Khan Bahadur, G.M.M.C., Triplicane, Madras). "The seeds in doses of one drachm are useful in gonorrhoea" (Narain Misser, Kathe Basar Dispensary, Hosangabad, Central Provinces). "The root is a reputed medicine for piles and gastrodynic pain" (Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, Raphanus, 394).