Herbaceous plant belonging to the cruciferous family, up to 5 cm tall, rosette-like leaves, white flowers and elongated pods 2 cm long and 2 mm thick. The fleshy, pungent rhizome, but also the leaves are used as food, especially in Japanese cuisine, also known in sushi.
Flowering time: March to November, fruit ripening: May to June
No monographs, study results, see under effects.
Antimutagenic, antioxidant, superoxide-scavenging, increase in NK cell activity, inhibition of the growth of food-poisoning bacteria and fungi.
In clinical trials, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 27 subjects showed an isolated significant improvement in working memory and episodic memory performance, while other cognitive areas were not significantly improved. In an open study with 15 patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, a significant improvement in performance status, cognitive dysfunction and mental vitality, as well as an increase in pain threshold was demonstrated.
Animal studies showed a reduction in body weight, fat mass, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and blood glucose concentration.