INTRODUCTION :-
In Ayurvedic texts , Saŕshapa & Rājikā are mentioned separately. Saŕshapa is further described of 2 types :–
(1). Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha / Siddhārtha gaur saŕshapa
(Dhanvantari Nighantu)
(2). Rakta saŕshapa / Siddhārtha rakta saŕshapa (Dhanvantari
Nighantu).
As per Ayurvedic texts , Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha is regarded BEST for medicinal purposes. Kashyap Samhita mentions a separate cahapter on it’s formulations - namely KATUTAIL-KALPADHYAY - reflecting it’s medicinal importance esp in childhood & adolescent ages.
But now a days whatever is available in market is the blend / mix of many species & sub-species / varieties, chiefly the following three :-
Sl. No.
|
Ayurvedic name
|
English name (British English)
|
Botanical name
|
1.
|
Gaur saŕshapa / Siddhārtha
|
Yellow mustard
|
Brassica compestris Linn. var. Sarson Prain
|
2.
|
Rakta saŕshapa
|
Brown mustard
|
Brassica compestris Linn. var. Sarson Prain
|
3.
|
Rājikā
|
Indian mustard
|
Brassica juncea Czern & Coss.
|
In western it is reffered as rapeseed-mustard oil. RAPESEED is formed of 2 words “RAPE & SEED” in which “Rape” (Latin) meaning “turnip” - reflecting the TAXONOMIC FAMILY from which it belongs to. MUSTARD is also composed of two Latin words “must / mustum” (means expressed juice of grapes) and “ardens” (means hot and burning).
Mustard is world's 3rd most important edible oilseed crops after soybean and oil palm. It is world's 2nd leading source of protein meal (only one-fifth of the production of the soy meal).
CANOLA is a specific variety of rapeseed having a low erucic acid content developed in Canada . Its name is a combination of "Canada" and "Oil" (Canadian Oil Low Acid, more precisely).
In northern India, it is widely used as a TABLE TOP OIL in almost every kitchen.
Figure : - 1 - CLASSICAL ZONES OF MUSTARD OIL
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES OF MUSTARD OIL :-
• गुण - स्निग्ध, तीक्ष्ण, लघु
• रस - कटु, तीक्ष्ण
• विपाक - कटु
• वीर्य - उष्ण
• दोषकर्म - वात ↓
कफ ↓
पित्त ↑
• प्रभाव विशेष - प्लीहनाशनम् परम्
BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS :-
Following tables displays
Gross nutrients :-
Energy
|
1,964 kJ (469 kcal)
|
Carbohydrates
|
34.94 g
|
Sugars
|
6.89 g
|
Dietary fiber
|
14.7 g
|
Fat (Total)
|
28.76 g
|
saturated
|
1.46 g
|
monounsaturated
|
19.83 g
|
polyunsaturated
|
5.39 g
|
Protein
|
24.94 g
|
Water
|
6.86 g
|
Vitamins :-
Vitamin A equiv.
|
3 μg
|
0% of average daily requirement
|
Thiamine (Vit. B1)
|
0.543 mg
|
42% of average daily requirement
|
Riboflavin (Vit. B2)
|
0.381 mg
|
25% of average daily requirement
|
Niacin (Vit. B3)
|
7.890 mg
|
53% of average daily requirement
|
Vitamin B6
|
0.43 mg
|
33% of average daily requirement
|
Folate (Vit. B9)
|
76 μg
|
19% of average daily requirement
|
Vitamin B12
|
0 μg
|
0% of average daily requirement
|
Vitamin C
|
3 mg
|
5% of average daily requirement
|
Vitamin E
|
2.89 mg
|
19% of average daily requirement
|
Vitamin K
|
5.4 μg
|
5% of average daily requirement
|
Minerals :-
Calcium
|
521 mg
|
52% of average daily requirement
|
Iron
|
9.98 mg
|
80% of average daily requirement
|
Magnesium
|
298 mg
|
81% of average daily requirement
|
Phosphorus
|
841 mg
|
120% of average daily requirement
|
Potassium
|
682 mg
|
15% of average daily requirement
|
Sodium
|
5 mg
|
0% of average daily requirement
|
Zinc
|
5.7 mg
|
57% of average daily requirement
|
Mustard seeds having high levels of omega-3 fatty acid (6–11%). It is a common, cheap, mass-produced , plant-based (i.e.vegetarian) source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Mustard oil having following composition of fatty acids :-
• 60% monounsaturated fatty acids
• 42% erucic acid
• 12% oleic acid.
• 21% polyunsaturated fatty acids
• 6% is the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
• 15% omega-6 linoleic acid.
• 19% saturated fats.
FLAX (LINSEED) OIL has 55% plant-based omega-3 fatty acid but it is uncommon as a table or cooking oil.
CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS :-
FATTY ACIDS are of mainly 2 types
· SATURATED FATTY ACIDS (SFA)
· UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Unsaturated fatty acids again are of two types, namely
EFA are essential for
EFA are essential for
• Normal foetal & infant growth,
• For brain development & growth and
• For visual acuity etc.
Figure :- 2 - CLASSIFICATION OF FATTY ACIDS
The human body can synthesize the SATURATED FATTY ACIDS (SFA) from other substrates like carbohydrates & amino acids by various chemical transformations. Body can also synthesize long chain MONOUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (MUFA) by chain elongation & polymerization mechanisms up to some extent.
Moreover, SFA increases LDL - a bad cholesterol responsible for atherosclerotic changes & coronary artery diseases. On the other hand MUFA raises HDL which is certainly a good cholesterol prevents the deleterious changes caused by LDL.
PUFAs / EFAs are again of 2 distinct groups LINOLEIC ACID & α -LINOLENIC ACID groups commonly known as Omega-6 ( Ω-6 ) & Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) fatty acid groups respectively. Omega-6 fatty acids are abundant in nature especially in vegetable sources. But omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in vegetable sources except a few like mustard.
As already said OMEGA-3 fatty acids can’t be synthesized in human body , it must be supplied with diet . Two important Omega-3 fatty acids are :-
• Eicosa-pent-enoic acid (EPEA ; C-20)
• Docosa-hex-enoic acid (DHEA ; C-22)
DHEA is important for proper brain function as 65% of the GREY MATTER of BRAIN is composed of lipids - having an important role of DHEA. EPEA is cardioprotective in nature. It protects HEART & CORONARY ARTERIES from the oxydative damage. Deficiency of thease long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) may lead to CO-MORBID conditions like - dyslexia, dysparexia , hyperactivity etc.
Not only the absolute amount of PUFA is essential but the proper ratio of Omega-6 ( Ω-6 ) & Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) is also essential. For the beneficial effects omega-6 to omega-3 ratio must be less than 5 : 1.
Comparative properties of common cooking fats
(For their FATTY ACID contents ) | |||||
Sl. No.
|
FAT / OIL
|
SFA (%)
|
MUFA (%)
|
PUFA (%)
| |
Ω - 6
|
Ω - 3
| ||||
1
|
COCONUT
|
92
|
06
|
1.6
|
O.4
|
2
|
CORN
|
13
|
25
|
61
|
01
|
3
|
GROUNDNUT
|
18
|
49
|
33
|
00
|
4
|
MUSTARD
|
19
|
60
|
15
|
06 - 11
|
5
|
OLIVE
|
14
|
77
|
08
|
01
|
6
|
SUNFLOWER
|
11
|
20
|
69
|
00
|
7
|
SAFFLOWER
|
10
|
13
|
77
|
00
|
8
|
PALMOLEIN
|
40
|
48
|
11
|
01
|
9
|
HVO
|
76
|
19
|
03
|
02
|
SFA = SATURATED FATTY ACID
HVO = HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (e.g DALDA)
MUFA = MONO UNSATURATED FATTY ACID
PUFA = POLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACID
SOYBEAN OIL has 6% omega-3 fatty acid & over 50% omega-6 fatty acid ― that competes with the omega-3 function.
High omega-6 & low omega-3 content as in GROUNDNUT, SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER & CORN OILS (56:1) can predispose to following conditions :-
• free radical diseases
• angiotoxicity,
• impaired immune function,
• reduced glucose tolerance,
• increased platelet aggregation,
• albuminurea etc.
COCONUT OIL has proper Omega-6 ( Ω-6 ) & Omega-3 ( Ω-3 ) ratio. But unfortunately the overall content of PUFA in coconut oil is too low to meet ones daily requirement.
CONTROVERSIES / MALAWARENESS :-
Erucic acid :-
Mustard oil was once considered unsuitable for human consumption in the United States, Canada, and the European Union due to the high content of erucic acid. This is because of early studies in rats. Subsequent studies on rats have showed that rats are less able to digest vegetable fats (whether they contain erucic acid or not) than humans and pigs.
Epidemic Dropsy :-
Epidemic dropsy is a form of oedema of extremities due to intoxication with Argemone mexicana (Mexican prickly poppy /“Satyanashi” ). In Northern India, epidemic dropsy occurs as a food adulterant disease where use of mustard oil as cooking medium is common. When mustard oil is adulterated deliberately (as in most cases) or accidental contamination (more RARE) with argemone oil may results in epidemic dropsy.Mustard oil itself never causes epidemic dropsy.
FINAL WORDS :-
So the RAPESEED-MUSTARD OIL in one’s kitchen may spark some pungent smell or may cause some tearing but CERTAINLY OFFERS the above HEALTH BENEFITS.
G.O.I. INSTRUCTION :-
As per Govt. of India instruction a person advised to use at least two different COOCKING OIL alternately. But don’t mix two different coocking oils at a time because their physical properties e.g. boiling point, fuming point etc may be quite different which may affect the effect adversely.
Bibiliography / References :-
S.N
|
Writer / Editor
|
Book / Text
|
Edition
|
Publisher
|
1.
|
H.K.Bakharu
|
Vitamines That Heal : Natural immunity For Better Health
|
1 ed,
8 reprint |
Orient Paperbacks, ND
|
2.
|
K.E.Elizabeth
|
Nutrition & Child Development
|
4 ed
|
Paras Publishing, Hyderabad
|
3.
|
L.K.Mahan & S.E.Stump
|
Krause’s Food & Nutrition Therapy
|
12 ed
|
Saunders Elsevier
|
4.
|
F.P.Antia & P.Abraham
|
Clinical Dietetics & Nutrition
|
4 ed
|
Oxford Universiy Press, ND
|
5.
|
O.P.Ghai, P.Gupta & V.K.Paul
|
Ghai Essential Pediatrics
|
6 ed
|
CPS P.&D., ND
|
6.
|
S.Gupte
|
The Short Textbook Of Pediatrics
|
11 ed
|
JAYPEE Bro. Med. Pub. (P) Ltd., ND
|
7.
|
Vriddh Jeevaka
|
Kashyap Samhita
|
8 ed
|
Chaukhamba Sansk. Sansthan, Varanasi
|
8.
|
P.V.Sharma
|
Classical Uses Of Medicinal Plants
|
Rep.yr. 2004
|
Chaukhamba Visvabharati, Varranasi
|
9.
|
R.K.Murrey et.al.
|
Harper’s Biochemistry
|
25 ed
|
Mc Graw Hill International
|
10.
| Libby et. al. | Braunwald's Heart Disease : Atextbook Of Cardiovascular Medicine | 08 ed | Saunders & Else |
11.
| ||||
12.
| ||||
13.
| ||||
14.
| ||||
15.
| ||||
16.
| ||||
17
| ||||
Web references / Magazenes
| ||||
1.
|
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| |||
2.
|
PubMed PMID: 9310278
| |||
3.
|
www.Sundropheart.com
| |||
4.
|
Aviskar; NRDC; July 2010; pp 17-19; Rasoi aur khadya tel; by Satish Chandra Saxena
| |||
NOTE :-
- The above article was published in "सृजन चिकित्सा" ( year - 7, Issue-37, Jan.-Feb.-2011, Page no.-35 to 37) from Pune - Maharastra - India.
- Relate topic presented by the author in following seminars :-
Sl.
No.
|
Name Of Topic Presented
|
Name Of Seminar
|
Organised / Held By
|
Place
|
Date
|
1.
|
Role Of Rapeseed-Mustard Oil In Preventive Cardiology
|
International Seminar Of Preventive Cardiology
|
International Academy Of Ayurveda & BGA India
|
Sangamner
Mahastrara
|
02/01/11
|
2.
|
Therapeautic & Prophylactic Uses Of Rapeseed-Mustard Oil In Cardiovascular & Haemopoietic Systems
|
“Raktavaha Srotas” Concept To Clinical
|
Vaidya Vilas Nanal Research Foundation Pune & VMP Nanal Ayurveda Foundation Pune
|
Pune
Maharastra
|
20/02/11
|
3.
|
Cardioprotective Role Of Rapeseed –Mustard Oil (i.e. सर्षप तैल)
|
NIACON – 2011
(Abstract published in Souvenir & Abstract Book at page no. 33 & 263-264)
|
National Institute Of Ayurveda Jaipur
|
Jaipur
Rajasthan
|
15/03/11
|
