Chandrashura
Lepidium sativum L.
Chandrashura (Lepidium sativum L.) is a plant drug, also called Candrasura, Candrika and Raktaraji, from the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; documented in Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia as Chandrashura; FSSAI (India) recognizes it as a food supplement.
| Botanical name | Lepidium sativum L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; documented in Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia as Chandrashura; FSSAI (India) recognizes it as a food supplement |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5376565 · Wikidata Q27033 · NCBI Taxonomy 33125 |
| Sanskrit | चन्द्रशूर (candraśūra), Candrika, रक्तराजी (raktarājī) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | चनसुर (canasura), हालिम (hālima) |
| English | Common Cress |
| Tamil | ஆளி விரை, Allivirai, ஆளி |
| Malayalam | Asali |
| Telugu | Aadalu, Adityalu |
| Kannada | Allibija, Kapila |
| Marathi | Haliv |
| Bengali | Chand Shura, Halim |
| Gujarati | Aseliyo, Aseriya |
| Urdu | Halim |
| Punjabi | Holon, Taratej |
| Oriya | Chandasara |
| Assamese | Halim |
| Kashmiri | Alian |
Sources: 'Names of Plants in India' Hindi entry for Lepidium sativum: चनसुर (chansur), हालिम (halim); Flowers of India (Garden Cress) gives the same.; 'Names of Plants in India' Hindi entry for Lepidium sativum: हालिम (halim).; 'Names of Plants in India' Sanskrit entry for Lepidium sativum: चन्द्रशूर (chandrashura), रक्तराजी (raktaraji).; 'Names of Plants in India' Sanskrit entry for Lepidium sativum: चन्द्रशूर, रक्तराजी.; 'Names of Plants in India' and Flowers of India (Garden Cress), Tamil entry for Lepidium sativum: ஆளி (Ali).; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; wisdomlib entry 'Ali-virai, Āḷivirai (ஆளிவிரை)' identifies it with Lepidium sativum, citing CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names (regional names) and the DDSA University of Madras Tamil Lexicon; Flowers of India and 'Names of Plants in India' give Tamil ஆளி (Ali) for Lepidium sativum, with Sanskrit चन्द्रशूर and रक्तराजी.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 4Other clinical studies and reviews
- 8Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chandrashura |
| Latin/Botanical | Lepidium sativum L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Glucotropaeolin (benzyl glucosinolate)
- Sinapic acid
- Imidazole alkaloids (lepidine, semilepidine)
- Alpha-linolenic acid
- Tocopherols
- Quercetin
- Kaempferol
- Sulforaphane
- Benzyl isothiocyanate
- Mucilage polysaccharides
How does it work?
- Glucosinolate metabolites (benzyl isothiocyanate, sulforaphane) activate Nrf2-ARE antioxidant pathway, upregulating phase II detoxification enzymes; chemopreventive potential reported in preclinical studies
- Mucilage polysaccharides form protective gel layer on gastrointestinal mucosa, reducing gastric acid damage and providing gastroprotective and laxative effects
- Lepidine alkaloids and isothiocyanates have been proposed to exhibit galactagogue activity through modulation of prolactin secretion pathways; human efficacy not established
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Stanyajanana (milk-promoting herb): traditionally used in Ayurveda as a galactagogue (milk-promoting) herb.
- Asthi-Sandhaniya (bone healing): traditionally used in Ayurveda for bone strengthening and fracture repair. Preclinical studies have reported enhanced calcium absorption and osteoblast activity.
- Shwasa (asthma) and Kasa (cough): traditionally used for these conditions. Preclinical studies have reported antiasthmatic and expectorant effects.
What do recent studies show?
- Gupta S, Gupta R 2024. Research Update on the Therapeutic Potential of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum Linn.) with Threatened Status. Current drug research reviews. PMID 37929722 · doi:10.2174/0125899775273877231023102011
Updated review documenting diverse pharmacological activities including galactagogue, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, and antidiarrheal properties with emphasis on need for human clinical trials. - Vazifeh S, Kananpour P, Khalilpour M and others 2022. Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Lepidium sativum. BioMed research international. PMID 35937400 · doi:10.1155/2022/3645038
Garden cress seed extract significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, reduced yeast-induced hyperpyrexia, and demonstrated dose-dependent analgesic activity.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Acute and subchronic toxicity studies in Wistar rats (14 weeks, 1-10% dietary incorporation) showed no mortality, no significant changes in body weight, organ weight, or hematological parameters; no toxicity observed in these rat studies, human safety not established
- Majority of studies are animal-based; there is a critical need for human clinical efficacy and safety trials
- Potential goitrogenic effects due to glucosinolate content; caution in patients with thyroid disorders; avoid high doses during pregnancy due to potential uterotonic effects
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Alkaloids
- Tocopherols
- Quercetin
- Kaempferol
- Sulforaphane
- Mucilage
- Polysaccharides
- Glucotropaeolin
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (seed powder), Capsule, Tablet, Modaka (sweetmeat), Laddoo (traditional preparation), Oil
Standard Dosage: 3-6g seed powder twice daily with warm milk; 500mg extract capsule; seeds soaked in water overnight and consumed; seed oil 5-10ml
Optimal Timing: With warm milk after meals for bone health; traditional Laddoo postpartum with meals; soaked seeds early morning for general health; oil with meals
Storage: Whole seeds in airtight containers (very stable). Powder susceptible to moisture absorption due to mucilage, airtight with desiccant. Oil in amber glass, refrigerated after opening. Laddoo in airtight containers, consume within 3 months.
Marker Compounds: Glucotropaeolin (benzyl glucosinolate), Benzyl isothiocyanate, Alpha-linolenic acid, Linoleic acid, Tocopherols, Beta-sitosterol, Campesterol, Iron, Calcium
Synergistic Combinations
- With Ashwagandha for bone health and strength building
- With Shatavari for galactagogue (lactation) support
- With Methi (fenugreek) for postpartum recovery formulations
- With Jaggery and ghee in traditional Laddoo for iron supplementation
- With Til (sesame) for calcium and bone health
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews4
- 2024. Research Update on the Therapeutic Potential of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum Linn.) with Threatened StatusCurrent drug research reviews. PMID 37929722 · doi:10.2174/0125899775273877231023102011
- 2022. Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Lepidium sativumBioMed research international. PMID 35937400 · doi:10.1155/2022/3645038
- 2022. Nutraceutical Profiling, Bioactive Composition, and Biological Applications of Lepidium sativum LOxidative medicine and cellular longevity. PMID 35096265 · doi:10.1155/2022/2910411
- 2014. Lepidium sativum Linn.: a current addition to the family of mucilage and its applicationsInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 24418343 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.01.008
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2026. Lepidium sativum and metformin hydrochloride hydrogels for effective management of wounds in an induced diabetic rat modelPharmaceutical development and technology. PMID 41672102 · doi:10.1080/10837450.2026.2630171
- 2025. Flavonoid glycosides in Lepidium sativum seeds and their bioactivitiesPhytochemistry. PMID 39832632 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2025.114410
- 2025. Isolation of Novel Compounds from Lepidium sativum Seeds and Evaluation of Their Potential Anti-Tumor ActivityChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 39318053 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202402071
- 2025. Plant growth-promoting Nocardia JTT02 enhances Biomass, glucosinolate metabolism, and bioactive potential of three Lepidium sativum cultivarsBMC plant biology. PMID 41087908 · doi:10.1186/s12870-025-07276-1
- 2024. Treatment of D-galactose-induced rat polycystic ovarian condition using Lepidium sativum and secondary antibodiesJournal of advanced veterinary and animal research. PMID 39101077 · doi:10.5455/javar.2024.k791
- 2024. In-vivo Immunomodulatory Activities of Essential Oils of Artemisia abyssinica and Lepidium sativum in MiceImmunoTargets and therapy. PMID 38288461 · doi:10.2147/ITT.S448317
- 2024. Allelochemical root-growth inhibitors in low-molecular-weight cress-seed exudateAnnals of botany. PMID 38141653 · doi:10.1093/aob/mcad200
- 2023. Lepidium sativum alleviates diabetic nephropathy in a rat model by attenuating glucose levels, oxidative stress, and inflammation with concomitant suppression of TGF-β1Saudi journal of biological sciences. PMID 37576066 · doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103720
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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