Radishes in winter and gingers in summer keep the doctor away

What's Radish Seeds (Lai Fu Zi)?
As its name suggested, it refers to the mature seeds of Raphanus sativus L., which is plant in the family Cruciferae. And it is also known as Semen Raphani and Turnip Seeds. It is cultivated all over China. Medicinally the plant is harvested during summertime when its fruits are ripe. After that, dry them in the sun, rub them for the seed, remove the impurities, and dry once again. It is used raw or fried. And remember to smash them first before the decocting.

Raphanus sativus is annual or biennial erect herb, 30 to 100cm in height. Taproot is fleshy, in the shapes of oblong, sphere, or cone, and with green, white, or red skin. Stems are branched, glabrous, and slightly covered with pruina. Basal leaves and leaves on lower stem are pinnatifid, 8 to 30cm long, 3 to 5cm wide, and with ovate lobes and 4 to 6 pairs of lateral lobes. Racemose flowers are acrogenous or axillary; sepals are oblong; petals are 4, white, purple or pink, 1.5 to 2cm in diameter, obovate, 1 to 1.5mm long, and with purple stripes and 5mm claws on the lower part. Seeds are 4, oval, slightly flat, about 3mm long, red-brown, and with fine textures. Flowering time is from April to May and fruiting time is from May to June.

Radish seeds health benefits
Radishes are native to China, in which there is a long history of cultivating and eating this root vegetable. In China you must have come across the old saying of "Radishes in winter and gingers in summer keep the doctor away." It is so popular, especially in the season of winter, simply because it is high in medical, edible, and nutritional value. So, what are the radish seeds benefits? And its pharmacology can explain it well.

Modern pharmacological actions of radish seed
1. In experiments radish seed extract has mitigatory but sustained antihypertensive effect, which is stable, reproducible and with no obvious toxicity and side effects;

2. The antihypertensive effect of its injection is connected to the drug concentration;

3. It can enhance the rhythmic contraction of isolated rabbit ileum and inhibit the gastric emptying in mice;

4. In vitro it has strong antibacterial activity on a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria;

5. Its raphanin at a concentration of 1mg/ml can significantly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.