Cabbage

Related Terms

Related terms: Antioxidant, biotin, Brassica (genus), Brassica vegetable, Brassicaceae (family), broccoli seed extract, broccoli sprouts, cabbage butterfly, cabbage extract, cabbage leaves, cabbage soup diet, caffeic acid, calcium, carotenoids, Chinese cabbage, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, coleslaw, colewort, coumarins, cruciferous vegetables, daikon, dietary indoles, dithiolethiones, ferulic acid, fiber, flavonoids, folate, glucosinolates, glutamine, goitrin, Helicobacter pylori, histidine, hydroquinone, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), isothiocyanates, kepis, kimchi, lutein, magnesium, manganese, Oriental cabbage, phylloquinone, phytochemicals, phytoestrogens, pickled cabbage, pierisin, potassium, radishes, riboflavin, sauerkraut, sinigrin, sulforaphane, sulfur, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, zeaxanthin.
Synonyms/common names:
Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala: Brassica oleracea L. (acephala group), Brassica oleracea L. var. viridis, borecole, chou vert (French), chou vert non pomm? (French), chou cavalier (French), chou ? grosses c?tes (French), collard, collard greens, couve galega (Portuguese), couve tronchuda (Portuguese), kale, leaf cabbage, sukuma wiki (Swahili), tronchuda cabbage.
Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra: Brassica oleracea L. (alboglabra group), brocoli de Chine (French), chou de Chine ? fleurs blanches (French), br?culi (br?coli) chino (Spanish), Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, Chinesischer Brokkoli (German), gai lan (Chinese), jie lan (Chinese), kailan (Malay), kairan (Japanese), phak khana (Thai), white flowering broccoli.
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis: Blumenkohl (German), Brassica oleracea L. (botrytis group), broccoli, brocoli, calabrese, cauliflower, cavolfiore (Italian), chou brocoli (French), chou-fleur (French), coliflor (Spanish), common cauliflower, couve br?colo (Portuguese), couve flor (Portuguese), hana kyabetsu (Japanese), hua ye cai (Chinese), kalafior (Polish), kapusta tsvetnaia (Russian), karifurawaa (Japanese), phuul gobhii (Hindi, Urdu).
Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata: Brassica oleracea L. (cabbage group), Brassica oleracea L. forma alba, Brassica oleracea L. var. conica, Brassica oleracea L. var. rubra, band gobhii (Hindi), cabbage, cavolo cappuccino (Italian), chou cabus (French), chou pomm? (French), chou rouge (French), col (Spanish), couve repolho (Portuguese), Early Jersey Wakefield, gan lan (Chinese), headed cabbage, January King, kabichi (Swahili), kabichu (Swahili), kanran (Japanese), kapeti kovu (Fiji), kapisi, kapisi palangi (Tuvalu), kapusta belokachannaia (Russian), kraut, kyabetsu (Japanese), lombarda, red cabbage, red drumhead, repollo, Rotkohl (German), savoy, Wei?kohl (German), white cabbage, wild cabbage.
Brassica oleracea var. costata: Bedford cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. (costata group), Brassica oleracea L. (tronchuda group), chou ? grosses c?tes (French), chou de beauvais (French), col portuguesa (Spanish), couve portuguesa (Portuguese), couve tronchuda (Portuguese), Madeira cabbage, Portugiesischer Kohl (German), Portuguese cabbage, Portuguese kale, ribbekaal (Danish), seakale cabbage, tronchuda cabbage, tronchuda kale, Tronchudakohl (German), white-flowered cabbage.
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera: bao zi gan lan (Chinese), Brassica oleracea L. (brussels sprouts group), Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera Zenker, brussels sprouts, brysselk?l (Swedish), chou de Bruxelles (French), col de Bruselas (Spanish), couve de Bruxelas (Portuguese), kapusta warzywna brukselka (Polish), me kanran (Japanese), me kyabetsu (Japanese), repollo de Bruselas (Spanish), rosenk?l (Danish), Rosenkohl (German), spruit (Dutch).
Brassica oleracea var. gongylode: bladkoolachtigen (Dutch), Brassica oleracea L. (kohlrabi group), Brassica oleracea var. caulorapa, cabbage turnip, cai tou (Chinese), cavolo rapa (Italian), chou-rave (French), col r?bano (Spanish), colinabo (Spanish), couve r?bano (Portuguese), Hungarian turnip, kalarepa (Polish), k?lrabbi (Swedish), k?lrabi (Danish), karal?b? (Hungarian), knolkhol, knolkool (Afrikaans), knudek?l (Danish), Kohlrabi (German), kol'rabi (Russian), koolrabi (Dutch), kyuukei kanran (Japanese), pie lan (Chinese), ryukyu kanran (Japanese), stem turnip.
Brassica oleracea L. var. italica: Asparagus broccoli, Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck, broccoli, brocoli asperge (French), brokkoli (Russian), Brokkoli (German), calabrese, cape broccoli, cavolo broccoli (Italian), chou brocoli (French), heading broccoli, kap?sta sparzhevaia (Russian), lu hua cai (Chinese), parsakaali (Finnish), purple cauliflower, Spargelkohl (German), sprouting broccoli, winter broccoli.
Brassica oleracea var. medullosa: Brassica oleracea var. medullosa Thell., cavolo a midollo (Italian), cavolo da foraggio (Italian), cavolo Mellier bianco (Italian), chou fourrager (French), chou moellier (French), col de meollo (Spanish), col meollosa (Spanish), couve cavaleiro (Portuguese), couve forrageira (Portuguese), couve-repolho branca (Portuguese), foderm?rgk?l (Swedish), fodermarvkaal (Danish), formargk?l (Norwegian), marhak?poszta (Hungarian), Markkohl (German), Markstammkohl (German), marookeeru (Japanese), marrow kale, marrow-stem kale, mergkool, rehukaali (Finnish), rehuydinkaali (Finnish), si liao wu tou gan lan (Chinese), voederkool (Dutch), voederzomerkool (Dutch), witte mergkool (Dutch).
Brassica oleracea L. var. ramosa: branching bush kale, branching cabbage, bush kale, chou branchu (French), chou cavalier (French), col caballar (Spanish), couve cavaleiro (Portuguese), perennial kale, perpetual kale, qian tou gan lan (Chinese), si liao gan lan (Chinese), Staudenkohl (German), Strauchkohl (German), Tausendkopfkohl (German), thousand-head kale.
Combination product examples: Ascorbigen?, OncoPLEX SGSTM, Pure Encapsulations?.

Background

Brassica oleracea belongs to the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family. The wild form of the plant originated along the Atlantic seaboard of Western Europe and along the Mediterranean basin. Brassica oleracea has been cultivated as a vegetable for more than 2,500 years, and through selective breeding, particular characteristics of the plant have been developed. A number of types of vegetables have been derived from this wild stock through selection of favorable cultivars. Colewort (cole-plant) is the wild form; its basic domesticated forms are collard, which has enlarged leaves, and kale, which typically has curled leaves. Cabbage is another variety, whose terminal bud consists of enlarged leaves in a tight mass (a head of cabbage). Brussels sprouts are lateral buds, which appear as miniature tight forms of cabbage, and kohlrabi are the enlarged stems. Broccoli and cauliflower are inflorescences, which are clusters of flower buds atop a stem.
The Brassica vegetables have many nutrients and bioactive substances, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, sulfur, dithiolethiones, and glucosinolates. The Brassica vegetables, especially cabbage, can withstand extremely cold temperatures. Thus, cabbage is a diet staple in many countries.
Ethnic folk healers from the Hispanic and African-American communities have long used cabbage juice for yeast infections. Other traditional uses of cabbage include as a treatment for gout and rheumatism, and as a poultice to cleanse infected wounds.
Good scientific evidence supports the use of Brassicaoleracea for treating breast engorgement in breastfeeding women. Clinical studies in humans have also investigated the potential beneficial effects of Brassica vegetables for cancer prevention, and for various conditions, such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides, fibromyalgia, and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Limited scientific evidence exists for the use of cabbage leaves in breastfeeding women to reduce painful engorgement and increase the average length of time of exclusive breastfeeding. Results of other studies reported that cabbage did not perform better than a placebo treatment for relieving symptoms of breast engorgement in breastfeeding women. Additional research is needed.

 B


Limited scientific evidence exists for the use of cabbage leaves in breastfeeding women to reduce painful engorgement and increase the average length of time of exclusive breastfeeding. Results of other studies reported that cabbage did not perform better than a placebo treatment for relieving symptoms of breast engorgement in breastfeeding women. Additional research is needed.

 B


Epidemiological research suggests that as consumption of Brassica vegetables increases, the risk of cancer may decrease. Additional research is required before firm conclusions can be made.

 C


Epidemiological research suggests that as consumption of Brassica vegetables increases, the risk of cancer may decrease. Additional research is required before firm conclusions can be made.

 C


Limited human research shows that broccoli or its constituents may decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia in women. Additional research is needed before general conclusions can be made.

 C


Limited human research shows that broccoli or its constituents may decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia in women. Additional research is needed before general conclusions can be made.

 C


Preliminary human research indicates that Brassica vegetables may aid in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Additional high-quality research is needed.

 C


Preliminary human research indicates that Brassica vegetables may aid in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Additional high-quality research is needed.

 C


Limited human research suggests that consuming Brassica vegetables, especially cabbage, may decrease blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol. Further research is needed before a conclusion can be made.
 C


Limited human research suggests that consuming Brassica vegetables, especially cabbage, may decrease blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol. Further research is needed before a conclusion can be made.
 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
Traditionally, one liter of cabbage juice has been taken by mouth daily. To relieve gastric pain and hyperacidity, one tablespoon of raw cabbage juice three times daily or 125 milliliters (1/2 cup) has been taken by mouth in the morning and evening before meals. Intestines may be regularized or excess body water removed with the consumption of five cups of cooked or raw cabbage by mouth twice weekly.
The cabbage soup diet has been reported to be a short-term rapid weight loss program, during which cabbage soup is consumed for approximately seven days, followed by a normal diet for at least two weeks. Because it does not contain sufficient nutrients, the cabbage soup diet should not be used for more than seven days.
For high cholesterol, two cans of mixed green vegetables and fruits with broccoli and cabbage (160 grams per can) has been taken by mouth daily for 12 weeks.
For cancer prevention, a daily dose of 193 grams of Brassica vegetables, together with a normal diet, has been taken by mouth for four weeks.
For fibromyalgia, 500 milligrams of a blend containing 100 milligrams of ascorbigen and 400 milligrams of broccoli powder has been taken by mouth daily for one month.
For Helicobacter pylori infection, broccoli sprouts (14, 28, or 56 grams) have been taken by mouth twice daily for seven days.
For breast engorgement in breastfeeding women, a cream containing cabbage leaf extract or cabbage leaves may be applied to the skin of the engorged breast for 2-8 hours between feedings.
For cuts and minor injuries, raw cabbage leaves may be crushed in a mortar and applied as a poultice to the skin of the affected area.
For stings, cabbage leaves may be applied to the affected area.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Brassica may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. Patients taking insulin or drugs for diabetes by mouth should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
Due to its high vitamin K content, Brassica may increase the risk of clotting when taken with drugs that affect bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin?) or heparin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix?), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin?, Advil?) or naproxen (Naprosyn?, Aleve?).
Brassica may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be changed in the blood and may cause altered effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. Patients using any medications should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
Brassica may affect the amount of drowsiness caused by some drugs. Examples include benzodiazepines such as oxazepam (Serax?), lorazepam (Ativan?), or diazepam (Valium?), barbiturates such as phenobarbital, narcotics such as codeine, some antidepressants, and alcohol. Caution is advised while driving or operating machinery.
Because Brassica contains estrogen-like chemicals, namely phytoestrogens, the effects of other agents believed to have estrogen-like properties may be altered.
Brassica may also interact with acetaminophen, agents that lower blood cholesterol, anticancer agents, calcium salts, and oxazepam.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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