Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl

Family

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) (Cruciferae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Flixweed

Arabic Name(s)

samareh سمارة

Hebrew Name(s)

dequrenya menutza

דֵּקוּרֶנְיָה מְנֻצָּה

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Child Health	Abdominal gas especially in children	Carminative	Pour boiling water over seeds in a cup + nabat sugar (large rock sugar crystals) & drink.	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Pruritis	Anti-pruritic	Extract seeds in "'araq" (anise liquor) & "qosani" (Cichorium sp.) (See NOTES 1) + "shirkhisht" (sugary sap of Cotoneaster) + "folus" (Cassia fistula); apply to affected skin.	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Small skin lesions (rash)	Vulneray	Cook seeds +" turgadazi" (Solanum nigrum, See CAUTIONS for this species) + "qosani" (Cichorium sp.) & drink.	Seed	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Throat lesions	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Rinse seeds with water, cook & drink.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation & abdominal pain	Laxative	Grind seeds, cook in water & drink without sugar.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea & vomiting in adults	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-emetic	Pour boiling water over seeds in a cup + nabat sugar (large rock sugar crystals) & drink.	Seed	Z
Infectious Diseases	Measles	Anti-Infective	Rinse seeds with water, cook & drink.	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Fever/ colds	Anti-Infective, Anti-pyretic	Rinse seeds with water, cook & drink.	Seed	Z

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Notes

Z notes that the Persian name for this species, "hokshir" or hakshir" is also used for seeds of Sisymbrium sp. ( synonym of Descurainia sopia) & Erysimum species. 1. In the recipe for pruritus Z identifies the ingredient "qosani" as Cichorium sp. This is not the Arabic name but is similar to Persian, Urdu & Sanskrit names for this plant ("kasni", "kasani )