Thlaspi arvense, Penny-cress, (Cruciferae, the Mustard Family), to 3 dm in height, white flowers, habitat: prairie, road ditches, waste places (102, 103).
Penny-cress produces erucic acid, C22H42O2 with its seed fats (174, 238).
Trifolium pratense, Red Clover, (Fabaceae, the Bean Family), to 8 dm in height, red flowers, habitat: native of Europe, commonly planted and escaped in fields and roadsides throughout most of temperate N. America (102, 103).
Red Clover was used for female complaints, as an anti-diarrheic, and to treat dysentery.
Recent scientific findings have shown Red Clover produces uzarin, which paralyzes smooth musculature, and is marketed in Europe under the name UZARA in drops and tablets and is recommended as an antidote to diarrhea. The isoflavone biochanin A is another extract of Red clover that has been found to be a potent carcinogenic inhibitor (267).
Red Clover also has been shown to produce medicarpin, C16H14O4, an antifungal phytoalexin (13, 172).
Craig Bremmon
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