Allium cepa: A traditional medicinal herb and its health benefits

Abstract 

Alliumcepa is highly valued for its therapeutic properties. Ithas been used as a food remedy from time immemorial.Research shows that onions may help guard against many chronic diseases. That's probably because onions contain generous amounts of the flavonoid quercetin. Studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Inaddition, onions contain a variety of other naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur com-pounds that have been linked tolowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Although rarely used specifically as a medicinal herb, the onion has a wide range of beneficial actions on the body and when eaten (especially raw) on a regular basis will promote the general health of the body. The bulb is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, hypotensive, lithontripic, stomachic and tonic. When used regularly in the diet it offsets tendencies towards angina, arteriosclerosis and heart attack. This is used particularly in the treatment of people whose symptoms include running eyes and nose