FoDilReview.'iIntemalional. 29:261-215, 20[i /•—s. _ i r r Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ( ' • ' ) J ^ y ? ' ' " '•••^"CIS '^•' '=' ^ i^' \S^ J Taylor & Francis Croup ISSN:8755-9129prim/l525-6103online —^ DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2013.790047 A Review on the Phytochemical Composition and Potential Medicinal Uses of Horseradish [Armoracia rusticana) Root NHAT MINH NGUYEN, SÁNDOR GONDA, AND GABOR VASAS Department of Botany, Division of Pharmacognosy, Debrecen University, Debrecen, Hungary The current review focuses on a plant with a wide spectrum ofpotential uses, Armoraeia rusticana (syn. Armoraeia lapathifoliaj, commonly known as horseradish. The plant has been cultivated for a long time and is used in food industry, mainly as a condiment, but recent research has provided data on other possible uses. This paper focuses on the botany, distribution, agriculture, and chemical characterization of' this root, and its possible therapeutical uses. Relations to other species, distribution, and ethnophar- macology are briefly discussed. An introduction is provided about the stability and technical properties of the main constituents. Detailed pharmacological description is given on the chief chemical compounds, allyI and phenethyl isothiocyanates, including in vitro and animal studies and pharmacokinetics. The main isothiocyanates are mainly researched as possible anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Keywords Allyl isothioeyanate, Funetional food, Glueonasturtiin, Phenethyl isothioeyanate, Sinigrin Botany and Ethnobotany Armoraeia rusticana, Cochlearia armoraeia, and Armoraeia lapthifolia are scientific names that refer to a perennial plant commonly known as horseradish. Horseradish belongs to the tribe Cardaminae of Brassicaceae or Mustard family, which contains more than 350 genera, with about 3000 species. The plant can reach the height of 120 cm. It has a hardy glabrous stem, from which wavy margin leaves arise directly (cauline leaf) follow- ing a circular arrangement pattern (basal rosette). Horseradish leaf is described to have a length of 30-100 cm, a cordate base, long petiole, and the shape slightly varying from the lower to the uppermost leaf. Whereas a shorter petiole and a lobe shape with entire or serrate margin are characteristics of lower leaves, upper leaves have a narrow base, obtuse apex, oblong or lanceolate shape with crenate or serrate margin. The margin is lin- ear or almost entire in the case of uppermost leaves.''* Horseradish has white, tetramerous flowers arranged in racemes and a smooth, brown angustiseptate fruit—a fruit flattened at a right angle to the septum, which usually contains very few (<6) or no seeds.'^' In addition, the lack of evidence that horseradish grows from seeds suggests sterility. For Address eorrespondenee to Gabor Vasas, Department of Botany, Division of Pharmacognosy, Debreeen University, H-4010 Debreeen, Egyetem tér 1., Hungary. E-mail: vasas.gabor@seienee. unideb.hu 261