Abstract
Watercress (WC) is an aquatic vegetable that belongs to the Brassicaceae family, and it often grows near water. In traditional medicine, WC is a known remedy for hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, arthritis, bronchitis, diuresis, odontalgia, and scurvy. It also acts as an antiestrogenic and can be used as a nutritional supplement. It has been reported that these therapeutic effects are due to primary metabolites such as isothiocyanates, glucosinolates, polyphenols (flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins), vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, E, and C), terpenes (including carotenoids), and bioelements which exist in this plant. Many pharmacological studies confirm the antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, and antigenotoxicity effects of WC. The consumption of WC extract can be useful in reducing the complications of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. Furthermore, the extract of WC could markedly augment the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. Interestingly, consumption of food rich in polyphenols such as WC extract can help reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cancer susceptibility. Several studies also showed that WC extract significantly reduced liver injury as a result of cholestatic hepatic injury, gamma radiation, arsenic, and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. In this review, the researchers focus on the phytochemical and biochemical characterizations of WC and its therapeutic effects in the treatment of human diseases.
Highlights
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.) is an aquatic perennial leafy vegetable that is a member of the Brassicaceae family and it is usually found in and/or around water (Figure 1)
Fenton-Navarro et al showed that the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous WC extract during acute mode was 76.6% more than that of insulin, and once aqueous WC was used in the chronic period, the levels of glucose reached the normal range during the third week to the eighth week of the experiment. [34]
Zargari et al claimed that the administration of WC extract in arsenic-induced oxidative damage markedly augmented the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and decreased MDA content in comparison to the normal group [45]
Summary
Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan ,1 Hadi Khodabandehloo ,2 Hossein Ghahremani ,3 and Amir Hossein Doustimotlagh 1,4. WC is a known remedy for hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, arthritis, bronchitis, diuresis, odontalgia, and scurvy. It acts as an antiestrogenic and can be used as a nutritional supplement. Many pharmacological studies confirm the antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, and antigenotoxicity effects of WC. E consumption of WC extract can be useful in reducing the complications of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. Consumption of food rich in polyphenols such as WC extract can help reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cancer susceptibility. Several studies showed that WC extract significantly reduced liver injury as a result of cholestatic hepatic injury, gamma radiation, arsenic, and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The researchers focus on the phytochemical and biochemical characterizations of WC and its therapeutic effects in the treatment of human diseases
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