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Review
. 2021 May 7:2021:5516450.
doi: 10.1155/2021/5516450. eCollection 2021.

A Narrative Review on Therapeutic Potentials of Watercress in Human Disorders

Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan  1 , Hadi Khodabandehloo  2 , Hossein Ghahremani  3 , Amir Hossein Doustimotlagh  1   4
Affiliations
Review

A Narrative Review on Therapeutic Potentials of Watercress in Human Disorders

Esmaeel Panahi Kokhdan et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The main phytochemicals of Watercress extract.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of Watercress extract on lipid and glucose levels.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of Watercress extract on DNA damage.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The suggested mechanisms for therapeutic potentials of watercress in human disorders.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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