Evaluation of Bioactive Properties of Lipophilic Fractions of Edible and Non-Edible Parts of Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) in a Model of Human Malignant Melanoma Cells.

Sotiris Kyriakou,Mihalis I Panayiotidis,Heba Alghol,Dimitrios T Trafalis,Kyle Stewart,Venetia Tragkola,Tom Amery,Aglaia Pappa,Paul G Winyard,Ioannis Anestopoulos,Rodrigo Franco

doi:10.3390/ph15020141

Abstract

Watercress is an enriched source of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), among other phytochemicals, with an antioxidant capacity. The aim of this study was to (i) chemically characterize and (ii) biologically evaluate the profile of the main health-promoting compounds contained in edible (i.e., mixture of leaves and lateral buds) and non-edible (i.e., stems) parts of watercress in an in vitro model of malignant melanoma consisting of human malignant melanoma (A375), non-melanoma (A431) and keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The extraction of the main constituents of watercress was performed by subjecting the freeze-dried edible and non-edible samples through different extraction protocols, whereas their concentration was obtained utilizing analytical methodologies. In addition, cell viability was evaluated by the Alamar Blue assay, whereas levels of oxidative stress and apoptosis were determined by commercially available kits. The edible watercress sample contained a higher amount of various nutrients and phytochemicals in the hexane fraction compared to the non-edible one, as evidenced by the presence of PEITC, phenolics, flavonoids, pigments, ascorbic acid, etc. The cytotoxicity potential of the edible watercress sample in the hexane fraction was considerably higher than the non-edible one in A375 cells, whereas A431 and HaCaT cells appeared to be either more resistant or minimally affected, respectively. Finally, levels of oxidative stress and apoptotic induction were increased in both watercress samples, but the magnitude of the induction was much higher in the edible than the non-edible watercress samples. Herein, we provide further evidence documenting the potential development of watercress extracts (including watercress waste by-products) as promising anti-cancer agent(s) against malignant melanoma cells.

Highlights

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a cruciferous perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, horseradish, wasabi, etc
We have evaluated the biological potency of watercress extracts in an in vitro model of human malignant melanoma consisting of primary malignant melanoma (A375), non-melanoma epidermoid skin carcinoma (A431)
Freeze-dried edible and non-edible watercress samples were macerated by utilizing different extraction protocols depending on the chemical nature of the examined phytochemical (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a cruciferous perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, horseradish, wasabi, etc. Brassicaceae vegetables, watercress is a rich source of glucosinolates (GLs), a class of nitrogenous, sulfur-enriched phytochemicals that are linked to D-glucose molecules via a β-D-thioglucosidic bond [1,2]. Upon plant tissue damage, they can be rapidly rearranged into biologically active secondary metabolites, including isothiocyanates (ITCs), nitriles, thiocyanates, epithionitriles and oxazolidine-2-thiones, depending on the substrate, pH and availability of ferrous ions [3,4,5]. The major GLs produced by Brassicacea vegetables are methylsulfinylalkyl (e.g., glucoiberin, glucoraphanin and glycoalyssin) [8,9], olefinic (e.g., gluconapin, progoitrin and sinigrin) [10] and aromatic (e.g., gluconasturtiin) [11]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion