Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Oil  Seed  Shoots  Stem
Edible Uses: Condiment  Oil

Leaves - raw or cooked[ 22 , 33 , 46 , 52 , 61 ]. A peppery flavour that can range from mild to hot, this is one of the most highly prized cooked vegetables in the Orient[ 206 ]. The young raw leaves are pleasantly spicy but older leaves, particularly when the plant runs to seed, can become overpoweringly hot though they are still nice cooked at this stage[ 206 ]. The leaves can be finely shredded and added to mixed salads[ 206 ]. The protein extracted from the leaves mixes well with banana pulp and is well adapted as a pie filling[ 183 ]. Flowers and young flowering stems - raw or cooked[ 52 ]. Sweet and succulent[ 133 ]. An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[ 1 , 2 , 17 , 57 , 183 ]. The seed contains 25 - 30% oil[ 74 ]. The seed is used as a mustard flavouring[ 171 ]. It is the source of 'brown mustard'[ 183 ], a prepared mustard that is milder than that produced from other species[ 238 ]. Pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard[ 238 ]. Black mustard comes from B. nigra and white mustard from Sinapis alba. The seed is also used whole in curries and pickles[ 238 ]. They are often heated in oil to destroy their pungency and give them a nutty flavour[ 238 ]. The root of some forms of this species is edible[ 183 ]. Sprouted seeds can be added to salads.

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Anodyne  Antiarthritic  Antiinflammatory  Antirheumatic  Antitumor  Diuretic  Emetic  Emmenagogue  
Foot care  Galactogogue  Laxative  Rubefacient  Stimulant  Tonic

Reported to be anodyne, aperitif, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant, the plant is a folk remedy for arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and rheumatism[ 269 ]. The seed is used in the treatment of tumours in China[ 269 ]. In Korea, the seeds are used in the treatment of abscesses, colds, lumbago, rheumatism, and stomach disorders[ 269 ]. The root is used as a galactagogue in Africa[ 269 ]. Ingestion may impart a body odour repellent to mosquitoes[ 269 ]. Mustard oil is used in the treatment of skin eruptions and ulcers[ 269 ]. Believed to be aperient and tonic, the volatile oil is used as a counterirritant and stimulant[ 269 ]. In Java the plant is used as an antisyphilitic emmenagogue[ 269 ]. Leaves applied to the forehead are said to relieve headache[ 269 ]. The Chinese eat the leaves in soups for bladder, inflammation or haemorrhage[ 269 ].

Green manure  Oil  Repellent  Soil reclamation

Other uses rating: Low (2/5). Agroforestry Uses: There is some evidence that if this plant is grown as a green manure it is effective in reducing soil-borne root rots in pea crops[ 206 ]. This is attributed to chemicals that are given off as the plants decay[ 206 ]. Other Uses None known

Special Uses