Erysimum Cheiranthoides and Weeds

The Plant

• Erysimum cheiranthoides is a member of the wallflower genus of the Brassicaceae, or mustard, family. Other family members range from garlic mustard, an invasive weed in many parts of the United States, to broccoli and collard greens.

Culture

• Commonly known as "wormseed wallflower" or "wormseed mustard," Erysimum cheiranthoides grows as an uncultivated weed as far north as Alaska and in all states except Texas, Oklahoma, MIssouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii and Georgia. Like its more invasive cousin garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, it is an opportunistic self-seeding biennial that thrives in disturbed, moist areas. Its cheerful yellow flowers are more abundant in direct sunlight, but wormseed wallflower tolerates shade as well.

Why Wormseed

• Erysimum has its roots in a Greek word meaning "to help," suggesting early use as a medicinal plant. Cheiranthoides refers not to the shape of the plant's seed but rather the plant's properties for dispelling worms. Not to be confused with the tropical Chenopdium ambrosioides, also known as Mexican tea, American wormseed and epazote, which performs the same function, Erysimum is a native plant probably used by early peoples. Its former classification as a member of the Alliaria genus means it is still referred to as treacle mustard.

Modern Research

• Growing respect for native and traditional medicine has shaped modern research since the 1970s. From herbal teaching gardens to botanical collections, plants now considered mostly as nuisance weeds have been systematically curated because of historic or anecdotal medicinal properties. Established in the 1990s, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine was created within the framework of the National Institutes of Health and both sponsors and funds research into traditional medicinal plants and practices. Establishment of the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 1989 further supported investigations of traditional medicine.

Research Results

• NCBI studies indicate that Erysimum cheiranthoides addresses more than worm infestations and may have substantial contributions to make to modern cardiac medicine. Wormseed wallflower may prove a reliable source of cardiac glycosides, chemicals that include the digitalis derived from foxglove and glycosides from milkweed, lily of the valley and oleander. These powerful chemicals govern contraction of the heart muscle and can play a critical role in congestive heart failure.

Future Prospects

• The news that an annoying and readily available weed contains chemicals that may positively support human health is both new and very old. Researchers note that using plants as medicinal sources dates back over 3,000 years. From the tropical rain forest to unplowed northern American fields, medical researchers are systematizing and quantifying ancient knowledge for current use. A humble plant with "help" in its name may prove a source of help again.