Consuming Radish and Clinical Depression

As time goes by, more and more people are suffering from depression. This means that there has been an increase in the demand for medication like antidepressants. Researchers are greatly concerned, not only because of the significant rise in people suffering from depression, but also because antidepressants are expensive and bring with them many side effects! It is for these reasons that researchers are focusing on finding alternative treatments such as plants which are safe, effective and affordable.  

There are many natural remedies for depression. In an article from Food News, Ellaine Castillo says that one of the natural remedies is the rat-tailed radish (Raphanus Caudatus) which is consumed in various Asian and European Countries. The radish’s antidepressant properties were found by a team of Pakistani researchers from the University of Karachi and Hamdard University. In another article from SFGate, it was highlighted that the reason why radishes are so healthy is because

“They contain a high concentration of potassium, dietary fiber, folate and glucosinolate compounds”.

The observed benefits of the consumption of this plant are all thanks to the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, and isothiocyanate compounds. These are all linked with neuro-pharmacological potential. Something else which makes the radish a natural remedy is the bio-active compounds that it contains.

To determine the relationship between the red-tailed radish and depression-like behavior, two tests on mice were conducted. In the first one, the mice were forced to swim in an open cylindrical container and were observed to see if they would struggle or just float motionlessly. In the second one, the mice were hung by their tails and were observed for any signs of movement. The results of both these tests showed that “all three doses of rat-tailed radish caused significant improvements in depression-like behavior as exhibited by reduced immobility time”.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, eating products which contain plenty of radish can significantly diminish your chances of developing several serious medical conditions. In addition to this, apart from diminishing your chances of depression, radish is also used as a therapy against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and antioxidant properties.