HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CABBAGE/135DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the
fresh cabbage head and juice derived from the fresh leaves.Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences have long-pedicled
flowers. The flowers are large and have 4 erect, narrowly
elliptoid sepals 6 to 12 mm long. The 4 petals are about
twice as long as the calyx and are sulphur yellow. The
margin broadens at the tip and narrows at the base to an
equally long wedge-shaped funicle stem. The stamens are
erect and close to the ovary. The central honey gland is
almost erect. The fruit is oblong, pod-like, almost cylindrical
and has a domed lid. The dividing wall of the fruit is thin as
well as pitted and folded between the dark brown seeds,
which have a diameter of 1.5 to 4 mm.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant can be annual, biennial or
perennial. It is about 2 m high and has thin roots. The stem is
woody from the first year and is covered in leaf nodes. It has
a bluish bloom and is branched toward the top. The leaves
are fleshy, blue-green and glabrous. The lower leaves are
petiolate. lyre-shaped, pinnatifid or simple. The upper leaves
are oblong to linear-oblong, usually entire-margined and
narrowed to rounded at the base and sessile.Habitat: Wild Cabbage was originally found in the Mediter-
ranean region. Today it grows wild as far north as southern
England and Helgoland, and cultivated varieties are found in
temperate and damp climates worldwide.Production: White cabbage juice is the juice of Brassica
oleracea.Other Names: Colewort
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Mustard oils (breakdown products of the glucosinolates
accompanying cell destruction): allyl mustard oil, methyl
sulfinyl alkyl isothiocyanates, 'methyl sulfonyl alkyl
isothiocyanates3-kydroxy-methyl-indole5-vinyl-oxazolidine-2-thion (goitrin)RhodanidesAlkyl nitriles
Amino acids: including S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide, S-
methyl methionine sulphoxide and, when extracted from red
cabbage, also anthocyans, including cyanidine-5-0-gluco-
side-3-0-sophorosideEFFECTS
Cabbage protects the mucous membrane of the stomach from
gastric hydrochloric acid. The gastroprotective effect of the
juice is attributed to the regenerative ability of the mucous
membrane that is caused by an anti-ulcer factor (vitamin U).
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Folk medicine uses include drinking the
juice for Roemheld syndrome, gastritis, gastric and duodenal
ulcers, gastralgia and subacidity.Homeopathic Uses: Preparations of the flowering herb are
used for hypothyroidism.
Indian Medicine: Cabbage leaves are used for disorders of
the thyroid, gastrointestinal tract, itching and cough, as well
as for asthma, gout and hemorrhoids.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The drug is available as a standard
preparation or prepared from chopped and pressed Cabbage
for internal use. Also available in homeopathic preparations.
How Supplied:
Tablet — 500 mg
Preparation: White cabbage (Brassica Oleracea Var. Capita-
ta) extract is prepared by processing leaves by mashing or
using a centrifuge. The resulting mass is pressed through a
linen cloth.
Daily Dosage: To augment a bland diet take 1 liter of juice
daily for at least 3 weeks but not more than 6 weeks as a
dietary additive.
For gastralgia and subacidity, the dose is 1 teaspoonful to be
taken before meals, 3 times daily.
Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet, 10 globules every 30
to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);
parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc; acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once
a day (HAB34).
Storage: The fresh juice will keep for approximately 24
hours if kept cool.
LITERATURE
Josefsson E, PH 6:1617-1627. 1967.
Kaoulla N et al., PH 19:1053-1056. 1980.
Larson KM, Stermitz FR, JNP 47(4):747-748. 1984.
Petroski RJ, Tookey HL, PH21:1903-1905. 1982.
Slominski BA, Campbell LD, J Agric Food Chem 37:1297-
- Further information in:
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
- Further information in: