Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Legends, Myths and Stories | Uses | Formulas or Dosages | Nutrient Content | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Arabidopsis thaliana
- Arabis thaliana (former classification)
- Pilosella siliquosa (historical name)
Common Names
- Thale Cress
- Mouse-ear Cress
- Arabidopsis
Parts Usually Used
The leaves and aerial parts of the plant
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Thale cress is a small annual (rarely biennial) plant from the mustard family (Brassicaceae), usually growing to 20-25 cm tall. The leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant, with basal leaves being green to slightly purplish in color, 1.5-5 cm long, and 2-10 mm broad. The stem leaves are smaller and unstalked. Leaves are covered with small, unicellular hairs called trichomes. The flowers are small, 3 mm in diameter, arranged in clusters, with the typical four-petaled structure of the Brassicaceae family. The fruit is a silique 5-20 mm long, containing 20-30 seeds. The plant has a relatively short lifecycle and can complete its entire development in six weeks.
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Where Found
Thale cress is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a geographic distribution from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia and Spain to Greece. It also appears in tropical alpine ecosystems in Africa. The plant has been introduced and naturalized worldwide, including in North America around the 17th century. It is commonly found along road shoulders, in disturbed land, agricultural fields, roadsides, railway lines, waste ground, and other disturbed habitats. It readily grows and often pioneers rocky, sandy, and calcareous soils.
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Medicinal Properties
Recent scientific research has revealed that thale cress possesses significant anti-cancer properties, particularly against breast cancer cells. When treated with the plant hormone jasmonate, the leaves demonstrate the remarkable ability to stop the growth of breast cancer cells while leaving normal cells unaffected. This selective action represents a potential breakthrough in cancer chemotherapy treatment, as it could lead to quicker recovery times and fewer side effects for patients.
The plant also has traditional medicinal uses as a mouthwash for treating sores in the mouth, though its medicinal applications have been historically limited compared to other plants in the Brassicaceae family.
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Biochemical Information
The plant’s genome encodes approximately 27,600 protein-coding genes and about 6,500 non-coding genes. When treated with jasmonate (a plant hormone originally discovered in jasmine), thale cress produces bioactive compounds that demonstrate selective cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. The exact biochemical mechanisms are still being researched, but the compounds appear to target specific molecular pathways in breast cancer cells without affecting normal cellular function.
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Legends, Myths and Stories
Thale cress has been described as the “Cinderella” of the medicinal plant world – a plant that was previously dismissed as having no significant medicinal value but has now shown remarkable therapeutic potential through modern scientific research.
The plant was first described in 1577 in the Harz Mountains by Johannes Thal, a physician from Germany, who called it Pilosella siliquosa. Carl Linnaeus later renamed it Arabis thaliana in honor of Thal, and in 1842, it was placed in the genus Arabidopsis by German botanist Gustav Heynhold.
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Uses
Thale cress is primarily known as the world’s most important model organism for plant biology research. It has revolutionized our understanding of plant genetics, cellular biology, and molecular processes, leading to breakthroughs that benefit human health research.
Traditional medicinal uses include:
- Mouthwash for treating oral sores
- Recent research applications for potential cancer treatment
Scientific and research applications:
- Model organism for studying plant genetics and development
- Research into human disease mechanisms, including neurodegenerative disorders
- Studies of cellular processes relevant to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
- Investigation of DNA repair mechanisms
- Research into circadian rhythms and light sensing
The plant is also edible and can be consumed in salads or cooked, though it does not enjoy widespread use as a food source.
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Formulas or Dosages
No standardized medicinal dosages have been established for thale cress. Traditional use as a mouthwash involves using the plant material in aqueous preparations. For potential cancer treatment applications, research is ongoing to determine effective concentrations and delivery methods of jasmonate-treated plant extracts.
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Nutrient Content
As a member of the Brassicaceae family, thale cress likely contains similar nutrients to other cruciferous vegetables, including vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. However, specific nutritional analysis data for thale cress is limited due to its primary use as a research organism rather than a food crop.
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How Sold
Thale cress is not commonly available as a commercial medicinal product. It is primarily available through:
- Research institutions and seed suppliers for scientific purposes
- Specialty botanical suppliers
- Wild harvesting (where legally permitted)
Warning
While thale cress appears to be generally safe with no known major toxicity, caution should be exercised:
- The plant is generally considered a weed and may be found in contaminated areas
- No comprehensive safety studies have been conducted for medicinal use
- Potential allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
- Pregnant and nursing women should avoid medicinal use due to lack of safety data
- Cancer treatment applications are still experimental and should only be pursued under medical supervision
As with any plant medicine, consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended before use, especially for serious conditions like cancer.
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Resource Links
Wikipedia – Arabidopsis thaliana
National Library of Medicine – The Impact of Arabidopsis on Human Health: Diversifying Our Portfolio
Plants for a Future – Arabidopsis thaliana – (L.)Heynh.
ResearchGate – The Impact of Arabidopsis on Human Health: Diversifying Our Portfolio
