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Gen info
- Cabbage was used in ancient times
by Greeks and Romans for its medicinal properties.
- Likely domesticated in Europe before 1000 BC.
- The UN Food and Agricultural Association reported in 2014 that world production of cabbage was 71.8 million metric tons, with China accounting for 47% of the world total.
(25)
- Cabbage heads are usually picked during the first year of the plant's cycle. Seed sources are allowed to grow a second year, but separate from other crops to prevent cross-pollination. (25)
Botany
Repolyo is the head-bearing or true cabbage, a biennial herb. Main
axis is short and thick, the leaves are densely packed, and as it grows, close
and develop into a gigantic bud of head. There are various forms of cabbage shapes: flat, round, egg-shaped, oval, or conical. Leaves vary in color, from
the common light yellowish green to dark green and dark red.
Distribution
- Cultivated from seeds.
Constituents
- Contains a considerable
amount of sulfur.
- Contains significant amounts of the amino acid glutamine with its anti-inflammatory
properties.
- Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, proteins, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. (12)
- Screening of leaves extract yielded alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids.
(see study below) (14)
Properties
- Seeds are diuretic, laxative, stomachic and anthelmintic.
- Leaf considered digestive and tonic.
- Red cabbage is emollient and pectoral
- Possibly cholesterol-lowering, anticancer, antifungal.
- Studies have shown
antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, anti-HPV, hypolipidemic, antitrypanosomal, antifungal, anthelmintic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anticancer properties. Parts
utilized
Seeds, leaves, juice.
Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
- Edible and prepared in many ways: stewed, steamed, sauteed, pickled, fermented, or eaten raw.
-
Excellent source of vitamin C; good source
of vitamin B; fair source of vitamin A.
Folkloric
· Juice of red cabbage used for
chronic coughs, bronchitis, asthma.
· Juice of white cabbage used to treat warts.
· Bruised leaves of the common white cabbage used for blisters.
· In European folk medicine, leaves are used for acute inflammation,
the paste of raw cabbage are placed on a cabbage leaf and applied to
the affected area.
· Cabbage juice used to accelerate gastric ulcer healing.
· In Iranian folk medicine, used for wound healing.
Studies
• Antihyperglycemic / Antioxidant: Petroleum extract significantly lowered induced hyperglycemia and a significant decrease in peroxidation. Study confirms the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of Brassica oleracea in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. (4) Study of an ethanolic extract of leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity as evidenced by a significant increase (p<0.05) in body weights and GSH, SOD, and GPX1 levels and significant decrease (p<0.05) in FBG and MDA levels extract treated diabetic rats. (18)
• Anti-HPV / Indol-3-carbinol: Source of indol-3-carbinol, or 13C, an adjunct compound used
for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis ( head and neck disease caused
by HPV (human pappiloma virus)
• Hypolipidemic:
Jewish study showed a cabbage and broccoli beverage to have cholesterol-lowering
effects.
• Wound healing:
Study showed administration of topical cabbage extract and egg-white once daily showed wound healing
enhancement in second degree burn wounds comparable to results obtained in the silver sulfadiazine group.
• Antitrypanosomal activity:
Extract of BO was found to be effective in immobilizing trypanosomes
and rendering them not infective to mice. (3)
• Antifungal Activity:
Study showed fresh aqueous juice was effective in inhibiting the growth of blastoconidia, reducing growth of C albicans and inhibiting the growth of some pathogenic filamentous fungi. (5)
• Occupational Pollen Source:
Study showed Brassica oleracea pollen is a new source of occupational allergen with strong allergenic potential causing symptoms in almost half of exposed employees. (6)
• Anthelmintic / Seeds: Comparative study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of seeds of B. juncea and flowers of B. oleracea against Pheretima posthuma, using Albendazole as standard. Results confirmed the anthelmintic activity of both plants, with Brassica juncea showing more efficient activity. (9)
• Anti-Ulcerogenic: Study evaluated an aqueous extract for antiulcerogenic activity in acetylsalicylic acid-induced ulcers in Wistar rats. Results showed treatment with AEB inhibited gastric damage with significant inhibition of ulcer formation with a maximum of 99.44% cure. (11)
• Hepatoprotective / Simvastatin Induced Hepatotoxicity: Study investigated the hepatoprotective activities of ethanolic leaf extracts of B. oleracea L. var. capitata against simvastatin-induced hepatotoxicity. Results showed significant changes in biochemical parameters, with restoration of oxidative stress markers towards normalization in treated animals. (12)
• Gastroprotective and Ulcer Healing / Juice: Study showed B. oleracea var. capitata fresh juice of leaves inhibit acid secretion by acting as H2 receptor antagonist similar to ranitidine, beneficial in acute and chronic treatment of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and hypersecretory conditions. (13)
• Phytochemicals / Antioxidant Activity / Leaves: Study investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant properties of B. oleracea. Screening of leaves extract yielded alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. The ethanolic extract yielded the highest amount of phenolic compounds which exhibited greater antioxidant activity by DPPH and reducing power assay. The high scavenging property was attributed to hydroxyl groups in the phenolic compounds. (14)
• Wound Healing / Ointment: Study evaluated cabbage and sunflower oil for wound healing capacity in animal models analyzing wound contraction area, total collagen, types I and III collagen, glycosamino-
glycans, and tissue cellularity. Area and wound contraction showed best results in groups receiving B. oleracea treatment indicating cell proliferation and differentiation. Ointment and balsam were effective in accelerating wound closure and forming a basis for formation of granulation and mature scar tissue, rich in collagen I. Results suggest B. oleracea might modulate repair of skin wounds and the final stages of the healing process. (15)
• Antioxidant / Anti-Inflammatory: Study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemicals of cabbage varieties i.e., red heads (RH), Savoy (Sv), Chinese (Ch), and green heads (GH). RH yielded the highest antioxidant contents, followed by S, C, and GH. Ch showed highest ABTS antioxidant activity at 5.72 µmol TE/g fw (Trolox equivalent). GH showed the highest DPPH activity with 91.2 µmol TE/g fw. Ch, Sa and GH showed highest anti-inflammatory activity values and RH the lowest, Results suggest cabbage as an important source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds for the prevention of chronic disease associated with oxidative stress such as cancer and heart disease. (16)
• Antioxidant / Anticholinesterase: Study evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity of red cabbage extracts. Maximum antioxidant activity was seen with the methanolic extract and maximum anticholinesterase activity with the hexane extract. (17)
• Antimicrobial: Study evaluated various extracts of B. oleraceae var. capitata, BO var botrytis and R. sativus var. longipinnatus for antimicrobial activity. The ethanol extracts showed prominent antibacterial activity with maximum inhibition zones against E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, S. paratyphi, and S. epidermis. (19)
• Anticancer / Antioxidant / 2-Pyttolidinone Fraction / Apoptosis Induction in Human Cancer Cells: Study evaluated a 2-pyrrolidinone rich fraction of B. oleracea var. capitata for antioxidant and anticancer activity. The fraction exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity in HeLa and PC-3 human cancer cell lines, and also exhibited antioxidant activity in cell free assays. The antiproliferative effects of 2-pyrrolidinone were mediated through cell cycle arrest in the G0-G1 phase. (20)
• Wound Healing Effect / Polyherbal Formulation: Study of an ointment prepared from a mixture of Brassica oleracea, Punica granatum, and Plantago major showed local wound healing activity in Wistar rats. (21)
• Antidiabetic / Phenolic and alkaloid Compound / Seeds: GC-MS analysis of seed isolated 24 compounds, one a phenolic compound [2,4- bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-] and another an alkaloid compound, 2,3-Dicyano-5,6-diphenylpyrazine. Of the two compounds, the alkaloid compound produced significant moderate reduction of glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. (22)
• Protective Effect Against Ketamine-Induced Sterotypic Behaviors / Juice: Study evaluated the effect of B. oleracea juice against Ketamine-induced sterotypic behaviors in mice. Haloperidol and Olanzapine were used as standard drugs. Results showed significant diminution of Ketamine induced falling turning head bobbing and weaving behaviors in mice. Study suggests consumption of cabbage on a regular basis may help prevent the development of mental problems. (23)
• Glucosinolates / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the hydrolysis products of glucosinolates and other volatile compounds and antioxidant activity by DPPH method.
Total identified glucosinolates including other volatile compounds comprised 99.99% (glucosinolates 7.39%, other volatiles 62.51%). Results showed significant dose-dependent DPPH scavenging, with IC50 of 85.66 mg compared to 15.57 mg for ascorbic acid. The cabbage variety yielded allyl isothiocyanate, iberin and indole-3-carboxyaldehyde in high amounts and played a significant role in antioxidant potential. (24)
• Flavonoids / Antibacterial: Food borne illness caused by microbe contamination is an important health, social, and economic issue. Study evaluated the flavonoid content by UPLC-MS in the Indian variety of organic white cabbage and their potent antibacterial property against food borne pathogens. Different flavonoids (genistein > kaempferol > naringenin and catechin) were observed that possessed antibacterial activity. The flavonoids and their derivatives have potent antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative E. coli. (26)
• Effect of Blanching on Carbohydrate and Glucosinolates Composition: Study evaluated the
effect of blanching and treatment with white vinegar containing acetic acid on dietary fiber, low-molecular weight carbohydrates and glucosinolates. Results concluded that blanching and souring decrease the content of carbohydrates and glucosinolates to a great extent. Individual components were affected differently in the two cultivars studied. (27)
• Color Cause of Purple Cabbage: Study evaluated the mechanism responsible for the establishment of purple color in cabbages. Bo-MYBL2-1 is one of the regulatory genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in cabbage—a repressor whose expression is inversely correlated to anthocyanin synthesis and is not detected in purple cabbages. The purple color in cabbages resulted from a loss of Bo-MYBL2-1
expression, caused by either the promoter substitution or deletion of the gene. (28)
• Cancer Chemopreventive / Glucosinolates: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that high intake of white cabbage may be associated with a lower risk of neoplastic diseases such as cancer of the pancreas, breast, prostate, stomach and lungs. The chemopreventive effects of cabbage may be connected with modulation of activity of phase I and II detoxification enzymes and other mechanisms triggered by glucosinolates and products of their decomposition, which are formed by hydrolysis catalyzed by the enzyme myrosinase. Products of glucosinolate decomposition my influence a number of cellular processes via regulation of transcription factor levels, signaling pathways, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Results suggest s need for a science-based dietary recommendations for the optimal exploitation of the vegetable in health protection. (29)
• Anti-Inflammatory in Contact Dermatitis: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of cabbage of methanol extract in mice with contact dermatitis induced by DNFB with ear swelling, erythema, and histiopathologic changes. Treatment with the methanol extract significantly inhibited epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of immune cells. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in inflamed tissues were effectively lowered. The anti-inflammatory activity is closely related to inhibition of Th1 skewing reactions. (30)
Availability
- Commercial cultivation. |
