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By Dr Smita Barode +2 more
Table of Contents
You might have seen spring onions growing in the home kitchen gardens. It is one of the plants that is grown throughout the year (perennial plant) and cultivated all over the globe. Spring onions are used in flavoring food and used in the preparation of soups, and salads.1 Spring onion strongly resembles onion but there are a few key differences. The spring onion does not develop a full bulb like onions, it has a smaller bulb. The plant stops growing and the leaves wither away during the beginning of the winter season. It originated in Asia and is common in Northeast India.1 The scientific name given to spring onions is Allium fistulosum and it belongs to the family Alliaceae. You might be familiar with some of the species like onions, garlic, chives, leek, etc., which belong to this genus and are important as a medicinal plant. It might have potential health benefits and let us discuss it in the following sections.1
Following the nutrients present in 100g of spring onion2 :
The following vitamins are present in spring onion:
Also Read: Dhania (Cilantro): Uses, Benefits & Side Effects
The following properties might be exhibited by spring onion:
Recently, I came across a study that states spring onions might promote bone growth. Spring onions are said to have a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium that might maintain healthy bones, and promote their growth.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Also Read: Lemongrass: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!
Spring onion might be helpful to humans in different ways and the following are the potential uses of spring onion:
Studies showed that spring onions may contain different phenolic compounds and these phenolic compounds may help in the antioxidant activity of spring onions. The antioxidant activity of the spring onions may neutralize the free radicals. Free radicals may increase the oxidative stress in the body which leads to the development of various diseases, mainly caused by damage to tissues and cells. The antioxidants present in spring onion might help in reducing oxidative stress. However, more research is required to claim the effectiveness of spring onions.3
Studies have shown that spring onion might have the potential to inhibit the growth of bacteria. It might be effective against bacteria like S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Hendrich hypothesised that the antibacterial activity of onion might be due to the presence of flavonoids and polyphenols in it. Furthermore, Jeffery et al. and Pursseglove et al. showed that this potential anti-bacterial activity of spring onion might increase with its concentration. However, such claims need to be proved by further research.3
Spring onion is a common culinary ingredient. It is known to be high in fibre. From my research and perspective, it may aid in digestion and may relieve constipation.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
Erkin et al. found in their study that onion extract might have potential activity against the fungus Aspergillus niger. Similarly, in various studies, it was found that onion extract might have potential activity against A. niger and A. parasiticus. Kim’s research showed, that green onion might have the ability to decrease the growth of various fungi.3 However, such claims need to be proved by further research.3
Spring onions may contain various bioactive components. Chisty et al. study found that these bioactive components like thiosulphinates and capaenes might act as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, these claims need to be further proven by more research.3 Do not self-medicate in case of less immunity power.
Spring onions may contain different phenolic compounds and these phenolic compounds may help relieve pain. Tsanova’s research found that spring onions may help in rheumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis by decreasing pain and inflammation. However, much more extensive research is needed to scientifically back-up these claims. Kindly ensure to consult a doctor for conditions such as arthritis and do not self-medicate.3
In a study conducted by Wagner, it was found that spring onions might help in altering histamine release and may help in reducing asthma. Another study by Tsonava et al. supported the findings of this study that, polyphenols present in spring onions might have a positive effect on asthma. However, these reports need to be further studied in detail. Therefore, kindly do not self-medicate and ensure that you consult a doctor.3
Spring onions may suppress the tumour cells and may act as an anticancer agent. The bioactive compounds present in the spring onions may inhibit inflammatory, cellular, and molecular markers which are involved in apoptosis (Cell death). Therefore, spring onion might have an anti-cancer potential against colon tumours. However, more extensive research is required to explore the potentiality of spring onion. Cancer is a serious condition and must be diagnosed and treated properly by a doctor.4
Though there are studies that show the potential uses of spring onion in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of spring onion on human health.
From my knowledge, spring onions might be your ally in your weight loss journey. Ferulic acid and quercetin are two compounds found in the spring onion that help in reduction of the size and weight of the fat cells. Hence, they may play a significant role in overall body weight loss.
Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.
Also Read: Red Chilli: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Smita Barode
Spring onions are used all over the world for flavoring various dishes. You can use it to flavor:
You must consult a qualified doctor before taking spring onions in large quantities. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.
The side effects of spring onions have not been established yet and extensive research is required to state specific side effects of spring onions.
No specific precautions as such need to be taken. However, one must take general precautions and confirm with a doctor whether it is safe for them to eat spring onions. Special care must be exercised by pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children and elderly individuals when taking spring onions in large amounts.
No such data is available related to spring onion consumption. It is advised that you consult a doctor and confirm if it is safe for you to consume spring onions, especially if you are undergoing any treatment and are on medication for the same.
Also Read: Banana Flower: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects By Dr. Rajeev Singh
Spring onion might be good for health as it might potentially have antioxidant, anti-platelet activity, anti-thrombotic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. However, more research is required to ascertain these possible effects of spring onions.3,4
There are no valid reports regarding the effects of spring onion on hair. There is a need for more research on this subject.
The potentiality of spring onion for skin has not been explored, therefore, there is lacking information on this subject.
Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E and K may present in spring onion.2
No. Spring onion and onion belong to the same genus Allium and have many similarities but are different species. The main difference is that the bulb of a spring onion is smaller compared to that of an onion.1
1. Aslam Z, Akhtar S, Imran M, Nadeem M, Gilani S, Elnashar M, et al. Antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-cancer and chemical composition of spring onion (Allium Fistolium) extracts. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci. 2017;8:1880–90. Available from: https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/60596
2. Arulselvan P, Wen CC, Lan CW, Chen YH, Wei WC, Yang NS. Dietary administration of scallion extract effectively inhibits colorectal tumor growth: cellular and molecular mechanisms in mice. PLoS One [Internet]. 2012;7(9):e44658. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23024755
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