There are about 150 species in the genus Diplotaxis, in addition to Diplotaxis tenuifolia, which is cultivated. They are distributed in temperate and subtropical regions around the world. Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Brassica juncea belong to the same family, Brassicaceae, but they are different species. Due to their similar names, they are often confused.
Classification of the Genus Diplotaxis:
Other wild species of Diplotaxis include Diplotaxis erucoides, Diplotaxis tenuisiliqua, Diplotaxis muralis, Diplotaxis mongolica, Diplotaxis alkalina, Diplotaxis integrifolia, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Diplotaxis platycarpa, Diplotaxis juncea, Diplotaxis tenuiloba, Diplotaxis cordifolia, Diplotaxis intricata, etc. The leaves of Diplotaxis erucoides and Diplotaxis tenuisiliqua can also be eaten. The leaves of Diplotaxis erucoides are used as a condiment for cooking fish and produce a unique flavor.
Morphological Characteristics of Diplotaxis:
In Chinese herbal medicine, there is a medicinal plant called "Tingli Zi", which includes seeds of various Brassicaceae plants. Research has shown that the seeds of Diplotaxis, which are considered to be genuine Diplotaxis seeds, are recorded in ancient herbal literature.
Diplotaxis is also known as "Beitingli Zi", "Tian Tingli Zi", "White Flower Grass", "Spicy Vegetable", etc. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, 5-30 centimeters tall. The short-horned fruit is nearly round or elliptical, flat, about 3 millimeters long, with very narrow wings on the upper part. The seeds are small, light reddish-brown, slightly shiny, flat-ovate, 1-1.5 millimeters long and 0.5-1 millimeter wide. They have two longitudinal grooves, one of which is more prominent. One end is blunt and round, the other end is pointed and slightly concave, and the seed hilum is located at the concave end. It has no odor, a slightly spicy taste, and strong viscosity. It flowers from May to June and fruits from June to July. It grows by the roadside, in ditches, on hillsides, and in fields, and is distributed throughout the country, mainly produced in Hebei, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia.
Benefits of Diplotaxis:
Diplotaxis seeds contain sinigrin, flavonoids, alkaloids, volatile oil, fatty oil, and isothiocyanates.
Experiments have shown that Diplotaxis seeds have the effects of relieving heat and stopping bleeding, clearing the lungs and relieving asthma, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. They are used for phlegm obstruction in the lungs, cough with excessive phlegm, distension and fullness in the chest and flanks, inability to lie flat, high fever in pneumonia, rapid breathing with excessive phlegm, pulmonary cardiac edema, chest and abdominal edema, painful urination, and have a cardiotonic effect. They can enhance myocardial contractility, reduce heart rate, and lower conduction velocity. Large doses can cause symptoms of cardiotonic poisoning such as tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They also have the effects of relieving asthma and diuresis.
Further Knowledge:
Another plant in the Brassicaceae family, the seeds of Iberis amara, also known as "Nan Tingli Zi", are also used as medicine. Sometimes, "Tingli Zi" is used as a general term for "Beitingli Zi" and "Nan Tingli Zi".
