Sisymbrium irio L.
Vernacular name: London rocket, Hedge mustard
Species Name: Sisymbrium irio L.
Family: Brassicaceae
Habit: Annual herb
Stem: Erect, branched from base, green, sparsely hairy
Leaf: Basal pinnatisect, cauline oblong-lanceolate, toothed
Flowering: June-August
Flowers: Terminal crowded racemes; small yellow cross-shaped; 4 sepals, 4 petals, 6 stamens (4 long 2 short), 2-lobed stigma, superior ovary
Fruit: Long narrow ascending siliques (3-8 cm) overtopping flowers, single row of seeds.
Uses:
- Seeds and leaves have expectorant properties that helps to soothe sore throat, ease bronchitis, laryngitis and bronchial catarrh when consumed in teas and decoction. Extracts have bronchodilatory and tracheal relaxant applications.
- Seed decoction is used as appetizer and for improvement of digestive functions.
- Leaves has diuretic property. In Unani medicines, powdered form acts as a mild appetizer and helps to detoxify and promote health of spleen and liver.
- Oil infusions are applied tropically to reduce swelling, alleviate rheumatic pains and soothe boils and irritations having rubefacient properties.
- Extracts have anti-inflammatory property and is useful to sooth muscle and joint swellings and pain.
- Bioactive compounds (flavonoids, phenolics and glucosinolates) enriches plant with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
- Young leaves and spicy seeds can be used as mustard substitute and give a rocket flavor.
- “London rocket” post-Great Fire colonizer and fire omen
- It is a disturbed ground and wasteland weed that originated in Mediterranean and is cosmopolitan.
