Hara.
Synonym: R. indica Hiern. Nasturtium indicum DC.
Family: Brassicaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India, in damp places, ascending up to 2,100 m in the Himalayas.
Unani: Khoobkalaan (also equated with Sisymbrium iro Linn., Hedge Mustard, London Rocket).
Siddha/Tamil: Kattu-kadugu.
Action: Plant—antiscorbutic, stimulant, diuretic (given in diarrhoea, dysentery and fever). Seeds—laxative, prescribed in the treatment of asthma.
Glucosinolates of 8-methylthio-oc- tyl, 8-methylsulphinyloctyl and 2-phe- nylethyl have been isolated from the seeds.R. islandica (Oeder) Borbas (Bihar, Bengal, Kerala) and R. montana Small (Punjab to Sikkim) are used for antiscorbutic, digestive and diuretic properties.
R. Br.
Synonym: Rorippa nasturtium- aquaticum (Linn.) Hayek.
Family: Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in Bengal, Orissa and Punjab.
English: Watercress.
Folk: Piriyaa-Haalim (Punjab), Latputiyaa (Maharashtra).
Action: Leaves—antiscorbutic, expectorant (used in catarrh of the respiratory organs), diuretic (used in kidney and bladder disorders), detoxifying. A lotion of leaves is applied to blotches, spots and blemishes. Fresh herb is used as a blood purifier.
Key application: For catarrh of respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)Watercress contains vitamin A 4720 IU, ascorbic acid 77 mg/100 g, also thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and biotin; mineral matter 2.2%—calcium 290, phosphorus 140, iron 4.6 mg/100 g, also sulphur, iodine, manganese, zinc, arsenic and copper; proteins 2.9%, amino acid composition includes leucine, phenylalanine, valine, lysine, tyrosine, alanine, threonine, glutamic acid, serine, aspartic acid, cystine, methionine sulphoxide and proline.The glucosinolate phenethyl isothio- cyanate, which is released upon chewing the leaf, is a chemopreventive agent against lung cancer. (cited in Expanded Commission E Monographs.)Watercress is contraindicated in gastric and duodenal ulcers and inflammatory kidney diseases. (Francis Brinker.)... nasturtium officinale
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