Botanical name : Brassica nigra Linn.
Family : Brassicaceae.
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Srashapa, Rajita, Aasuri
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu
Guna : Lakhu, Teekshna
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Mustard
Hindi : Rayi
Malayalam : Katuku, Cherukatuku,
Distribution – Throughout India, cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small annual herb grows up to 1 meter in height. Basal leaves long, ovate, and middle leaves are dentate and upper leaves are linear; flowers yellow colored in terminal racemes. Fruits pod, breaking from below upwards, dispersing small round dark seeds.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, pain, arthritis, inflammations, worm infestation, dengue fever, colic, anorexia, flatulence, skin diseases, vomiting and hepatitis. In large doses it is poisonous.
Useful part : Seed, Oil.