The seed of Lepidium apetalum Wilid., or Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb
ex Pranti, family Cruciferae.
L. apetalum: Seed flatovate, 1.0
The seed of Lepidium apetalum Wilid., or Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb
ex Pranti, family Cruciferae.
L. apetalum: Seed flatovate, 1.0-1.5 mm long. Surface reddish brown, with
two longitudinal grooves, one end round, the other end acutate and retuse,
a hilum presenting at the depressed point. D. sophia: Seed somewhat flat-oblong,
about 1 mm long. Surface yellow-brown, fine spotted protuberances and
two shallowed longitudinal grooves seen under magnifier. Both are acrid
and bitter in taste, extremely cold in nature, and attributive to lung
and urinary bladder channels.
1. Purge lung-fire, eliminate phlegm and relieve dyspnea: For phlegm-retention
syndrome with dyspneic cough or general edema. Recently, used for pneumonia,
pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, cor pulmonale and heart failure.
Promote diuresis and reduce edema: For edema, pleural effusion and ascites
attributive to sthenia-syndrome.
1. Its alcoholic extract acts as cardioglycosides, i.e., enhances myocardial
contractility, slows heart rate and decreases the conduction rate in experimental