Sinapis alba
White mustard
Sinapis alba, commonly known as white mustard, is a versatile annual herb belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Renowned for its pungent seeds and vibrant yellow flowers, it has long been utilized in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties, serving as a potent natural therapeutic agent.
- Scientific name: Sinapis alba
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Brassicales, it is classified under the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Sinapis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Brassicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sinapis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Sinapis alba, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Dhivehi, it is called ރީނދޫ ރެވި, while in Polish, it is referred to as gorczyca biała. It is known as Yuraq mustasa in Quechua, and in Spanish-speaking areas, it is called Mostaza blanca. Similarly, in Galician, the plant is known as Mostaza branca.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| dv | ރީނދޫ ރެވި | Wikidata |
| pl | gorczyca biała | Wikidata |
| qu | Yuraq mustasa | Wikidata |
| es | Mostaza blanca | Wikidata |
| gl | Mostaza branca | Wikidata |
| et | Valge sinep | Wikidata |
| de | Weißer Senf | Wikidata |
| de-ch | Weisser Senf | Wikidata |
| id | Sesawi putih | Wikidata |
| ja | シロガラシ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern primarily concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented across various island territories, including the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Additionally, it can be found growing throughout the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. The species also maintains a notable range within Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight its preference for the northernmost reaches of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as white mustard, is utilized in various traditional remedies through specific components of its reproductive structure. Both the seeds and the ripe seeds are of significant interest due to their concentrated chemical properties, particularly the glucosinolates that react to produce pungent oils. While the seeds are often harvested for their immediate therapeutic potential, the use of fully ripe seeds ensures a stabilized potency for medicinal preparations.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ripe seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sinapis alba has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 65 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glucosinolates, sinigrin, p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime, sinalbin, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-galactose.
- Total chemicals
- 59
- Scientific sources
- 65
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| glucosinolates | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| sinigrin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sinalbin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-galactose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-d-xylose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-l-arabinose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,3-di-O-methyl-l-arabinose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-O-methyl-l-arabinose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucotropaeolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Sinapis alba has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Phytoalexin.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytoalexin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sinapis alba has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anaphylaxis, asthma, cancer, cough.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anaphylaxis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |