A radish-like plant from India can help curb symptoms of depression, study shows
03/21/2020 / By Joanne Washburn / Comments
A radish-like plant from India can help curb symptoms of depression, study shows

For many people diagnosed with mental illnesses, like depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety, treatment often costs an arm and a leg. Most conventional treatments of mental illnesses include synthetic antidepressants and psychotherapy. However, synthetic antidepressants often cause adverse side effects, while dependence on therapy sessions can rapidly deplete your savings. It seems as if treatment for mental illnesses can only either be economic or effective – never both at the same time.

But a recent study suggests that such a treatment exists. The rat-tailed radish can potentially curb symptoms of clinical depression, according to a study published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Pakistani researchers Ishrat Younus and Afshan Siddiq found evidence to suggest that Raphanus sativus L. Var. caudatus, also known as the rat-tailed radish, can be used as a natural antidepressant.

What is depression?

Healthcare professionals often distinguish between two types of depression: situational and clinical. Although “situational depression” may not be an actual mental illness, healthcare professionals do recognize it as an adjustment disorder. This type of depression is primarily triggered by a traumatic event, like the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or divorce. Often, people with situational depression show signs of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety and insomnia. However, unlike people with chronic depressive episodes, people with situational depression can hope to recover with little to no professional help.

On the other hand, people with depressive episodes lasting for weeks at a time may have an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD). This type of depression is an actual mental illness marked by lethargy and suicidal ideation. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), MDD is a mood disorder often caused by disturbances in brain function. But MDD can also be caused by non-genetic factors, like alcohol or drug abuse, highly traumatic events and severe mental or emotional stress. In extreme cases, MDD can also cause an individual to experience delusions and hallucinations.

Unlike people with situational depression, people diagnosed with MDD may struggle to recover without professional intervention. Most physicians prescribe the use of synthetic antidepressants in people with MDD and recommend that they undergo therapy. Unfortunately, synthetic antidepressants often cause side effects, like allergic reactions and seizures, while therapy may eventually burn a hole in your pocket. Moreover, natural treatments for depression, like exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, can only relieve symptoms of MDD at best.

The rat-tailed radish as a natural antidepressant

At the time of the study, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 450 million humans suffered from behavioral problems. According to Younus and Siddiq, many people have been using medicinal plants to treat various illnesses, and with good reason. Not only are plants economical, they are also natural effective treatments with little to no side effects.

Raphanus sativus L. Var. caudatus, also known as the rat-tailed radish in English or “Mungra” in Urdu, is a radish-like plant used in many Pakistani dishes. Its benefits as a medicinal plant have been documented in studies on cardiovascular disease, cancer and gastric ailments. In India and Pakistan, people use the plant’s leaves, roots and seeds to treat digestive disorders.

In particular, Younus and Siddiq were interested in certain compounds of the plant that can potentially affect the nervous system. To test the plant’s potential as a natural antidepressant, Younus and Siddiq tested its effects at different doses in 50 healthy mice, which were divided into five groups. Younus and Siddiq gave group I a saline solution and group V the synthetic antidepressant Fluoxetine. Meanwhile, they administered rat-tailed radish extract to the remaining groups at the following doses: 250 milligrams of extract per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) for group II, 500 mg/kg for group III and 1000 mg/kg for group IV. They then subjected the mice to a forced swim test and tail suspension test and observed how the mice struggled in each test.

The results of the tests revealed that all the mice treated with the rat-tailed radish extract showed significant anti-immobility activity similar to the mice treated with Fluoxetine. Because of these positive results, Younus and Siddiq suggest that the rat-tailed radish may be used to treat people with symptoms of depression.

The rat-tailed radish is known across India and Pakistan not only for its flavor, but also for its various medicinal benefits. This recent study on its antidepressant-like properties may help healthcare professionals develop natural and effective antidepressants in the future.

Sources:

Journals.ATHMSI.org

MedicalNewsToday.com

VeryWellMind.com

Tropical.TheFerns.info

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