Vegetable, watercress, nasturtium officinale, nutrients, bioactive compounds, phenolics, flavonoids, glucosinolate, health benefits,

1. VEGETABLE AS MEDICINE:
WATERCRESS,
NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE
By
Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD.
Former Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
University of Miami, Miami, FL., USA
Email: kevinng68@gmail.com
A slide presentation for HealthCare Provider Seminar Jan 2020

2. Outline of lecture
▪ What is watercress?
▪ Origin of watercress.
▪ Classification
▪ Composition
▪ Pharmacology
▪ Bioavailability
▪ Health Benefits
▪ Commercial uses
▪ Summary

3. What is watercress?
▪ Watercress is an aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial herb with bright
white flowers that resemble the shape of a cross; hence, an old name
(Cruciferae) for the mustard family, to which watercress belongs.
▪ Watercress is commonly found in cold, alkaline waters of springs and
spring runs, throughout the North American continent.

4. ORIGIN

5. Origin of watercress.
▪ Watercress is native to Western Asia. It can be
traced back to the Greeks, Romans, and Persians
who used it for medical purposes.
▪ Soldiers and sailors ate it to treat scurvy.
▪ Watercress belongs to the cabbage family, along
with mustard, horseradish, and wasabi.
▪ Watercress was brought by European immigrants to
the United States in mid-1800s, it has become a
popular garnish and vegetable for North Americans.

6. CLASSIFICATION

7. Scientific classification of watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercress

8. PRODUCTION

9. Habitats of watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Brown) in
North America
https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=14217

10. NUTRIENTS

11. Nutrient and Phytochemical composition of watercress
Adapted from https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ajpcr/article/view/29422/16313

12. Nutrients and vitamins of watercress (2018)
https://www.ijcmas.com/7-2-2018/Yamuna%20Pandey2,%20et%20al.pdf

13. Mineral composition of raw watercress (2018)
https://www.ijcmas.com/7-2-2018/Yamuna%20Pandey2,%20et%20al.pdf

14. Major Phytochemicals in Watercress

15. Quantitative phytochemical content of watercress
https://www.thewatercresscompany.com/phytochemical-antioxidants
Flavonoid
Phenolic acid
Isothiocyanate
Phytochemical
HCA=hydroxycinnamic acid

16. Total phenolic contents (TPC) of methanolic and aqueous extracts of
watercress roots, stem and leaves.
Different letters in same extract represent significant at p < 0.05 (2015)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4656250/

17. Glucosinolates identified by LC-ESI/MS in N. officinale (2017)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442658/

18. Glucosinolates content of in vitro N. officinale at
different stages of harvest (2018)
ASM Science Journal, Volume 11, Special Issue 2, 2018 for SANREM
• phenyl ethyl glucosinolate (PEGSL)
• benzyl glucosinolate (BGSL) i.e. the precursors of
phenyl ethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and
benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC),

19. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

20. Number of publications on “watercress” and “phenethyl isothiocyanate”
from 1895 to 2020
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=glucosinolate

21. Scientific studies on properties of watercress

22. FUNCTIONS

23. Nutrient and phytochemical composition of watercress

24. Biological activities of major phytochemicals in watercress

25. Functions of carotenoids in human
▪ Carotenoids are beneficial antioxidants that
can protect one from disease and enhance
your immune system.
▪ Provitamin A carotenoids can be converted
into vitamin A, which is essential for growth,
immune system function, and eye health
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661807000357

26. Functions of polyphenols (phenolics and flavonoids) in watercress
Sdspted from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Berry-phenolics-and-flavonoids-and-their-biological-activities_fig2_256468072

27. Functions of flavonoids in watercress

28. Mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds in watercress
https://www.iris.unina.it/retrieve/handle/11588/696754/156335/Raiola%20et%20al%202018.pdf

29. GLUCOSINOLATES

30. What is glucosinolate?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• R: Aliphatic, Aromatic, Indole
glucosinolate

31. Classification of glucosinolates
more than 130 glucosinolates have been identified
gluconasturtiin

32. Action of myrosinase (enzyme) on gluconasturtiin to yield
an unstable intermediate product
https://www.scribd.com/document/401191182/Munish-Puri-eds-Food-Bioactives-
Extraction-and-Biotechnology-Applications-2017-Springer-International-Publishing-pdf

33. Action of myrosinase (enzyme) on glucosinolate to yield
an unstable intermediate product thence to PEITC
https://www.scribd.com/document/401191182/Munish-Puri-eds-Food-Bioactives-
Extraction-and-Biotechnology-Applications-2017-Springer-International-Publishing-pdf

34. Fate of glucosinolates and their breakdown products in the
human gut. (2016)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4985713/

35. Summary of activities of major phytochemicals in watercress

36. PHARMACOLOGY

37. Beta-phenylethyl and 8-methylsulphinyloctyl isothiocyanates,
constituents of watercress, suppress LPS induced production of nitric
oxide and prostaglandin E2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages (2005)
▪ Beta-phenylethyl (PEITC) and 8-methylsulphinyloctyl isothiocyanates (MSO)
represent two phytochemical constituents present in watercress Rorripa nasturtium
aquaticum, with known chemopreventative properties. In the present investigation,
we examined whether PEITC and MSO could modulate the inflammatory response of
Raw 264.7 macrophages to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by assessment of
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression.
Overproduction of both nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGE) has been
associated with numerous pathological conditions including chronic inflammation
and cancer. Our results demonstrate that LPS (1 microg/ml approximately 24 h)
induced nitrite and prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) synthesis in Raw 264.7 cells was
attenuated by both isothiocyanates (ITCs) in a concentration-dependent manner.
Both PEITC and MSO decreased (iNOS) and (COX-2) protein expression levels
leading to reduced secretion of both pro-inflammatory mediators. Interestingly, the
reduction in both iNOS and COX-2 expression were associated with the inactivation
of nuclear factor-kappaB and stabilization of IkappaBalpha. Taken together our data
gives further insight into the possible chemopreventative properties of two dietary
derived isothiocyanates from watercress.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15917216/

38. Effects of Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) Intake on Blood Pressure
and Lipid Metabolism in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (2014)
▪ The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of watercress intake on
blood pressure and lipid metabolism in rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs)
were divided into control and watercress groups, and the latter were fed a 2.5%
watercress diet. After feeding for 11 weeks, the systolic blood pressure of the SHRs
fed watercress was significantly lower than that of the control SHRs. The
antihypertensive mechanism of watercress was then studied using the Magnus
method. An aqueous extract of watercress inhibited angiotensin-I-converting
enzyme in vascular smooth muscle, and showed weak antagonism towards the AT1
receptor. Ethanol and methanol extracts of watercress showed weak inhibition of
voltage-dependent calcium channels and the α-adrenergic receptor. The SHRs fed
watercress showed significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-
cholesterol, and triglycerides, and the total cholesterol content of the liver showed a
tendency to decrease. Although the watercress-fed SHRs showed significantly high
liver triglyceride levels, their serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine
aminotransferase levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that daily
consumption of watercress efficiently improves lipid metabolism and lowers blood
pressure.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273740788_Effects_of_Watercress_Nasturtium_officinale_Intake_on_Blood_Press
ure_and_Lipid_Metabolism_in_Spontaneously_Hypertensive_Rats

39. Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Watercress (Nasturtium Officinale)
Leaves on Serum Glucose in Diabetic Rats. (2015)
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7949/c2d7f04a1dd47ea212d9e29b2845b6925
0a0.pdf?_ga=2.218083798.1596162858.1577769498-1387320711.1577769498

40. Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Nasturtum officinale on
Lipids in STZ-induced diabetic rats (2015)
Triglyceride Total Cholesterol LDL-cholesterol
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7949/c2d7f04a1dd47ea212d9e29b2845b69250a
0.pdf?_ga=2.218083798.1596162858.1577769498-1387320711.1577769498

41. Phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibits angiogenesis
In vitro and Ex vivo. (2007)
https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/67/5/2239.full#related-urls

42. HEALTH BENEFITS

43. Watercress tops list of ‘powerhouse fruits and vegetables.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/06/05/finally-a-
list-of-powerhouse-fruits-and-vegetables-ranked-by-how-much-nutrition-they-contain/

44. CLINICAL STUDIES

45. A summary of conditions for which clinical trials have been or are
currently being carried out using broccoli or watercress preparations,
SFN (sulforaphane) or PEITC (phenenthyl isothiocyanate.(2018)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6226005/

46. Clinical trials using broccoli/SFN and watercress/PEITC (2018)
▪ As per clinicaltrials.gov, there are a number of clinical trials in the pipeline that are using
broccoli/SFN and watercress/PEITC and some of them are highlighted here-
▪ SFN against tobacco-related head and neck cancer (NCT03268993, 03182959);
▪ SFN against lung cancer in former smokers (NCT03232138);
▪ SFN against autism (NCT02677051, 02909959; 02879110, 02654743, 02561481); SFN against
schizophrenia (NCT02810964, 02880462);
▪ SFN against cystic fibrosis (NCT01315665);
▪ Watercress juice against oral cancer (NCT01790204);
▪ PEITC jelly in head and neck cancer (safety and efficacy study; NCT03034603);
▪ Watercress diet against long-term effects secondary to cancer therapy in adults (NCT02468882).
▪ Results from these studies will likely further bolster the already known disease-preventive and
therapeutic effects of these isothiocyanates and will reveal important aspects of how to best
administer them to target populations.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6226005/

47. Isothiocyanates: translating the power of plants to people (2018)
▪ Isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables have been studied extensively in cells and in animals
for their disease preventive and therapeutic effects. However, translating their utility to human
populations has been both limited and challenging.
▪ Herein, clinical trials employing two isothiocyanates, sulforaphane (SFN; 1-Isothiocyanato-4-
(methylsulfinyl) butane) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC; 2-isothiocyanatoethylbenzene) that
are isolated principally from broccoli and watercress, respectively, are summarized and discussed.
▪ Both of these compounds have been used in small human clinical trials, either within food matrices
or as single agents, against a variety of diseases ranging from cancer to autism.
▪ Results suggest an opportunity to incorporate them, or more likely preparations derived from their
source plants, into larger human disease mitigation efforts. The context for the applications of
these compounds and plants in evidence-based food and nutritional policy is also evaluated.
▪ Keywords: Broccoli, watercress, isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, phenethyl isothiocyanate, clinical
trials
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6226005/

48. USE

49. Watercress recipe

50. Summary
▪ Watercress is an aquatic plant that thrives in many parts of the
world.
▪ It belongs to the cabbage family same as mustard, horseradish,
and wasabi.
▪ Watercress is rich in vitamins, minerals, fibers and
phytochemicals.
▪ The phytochemicals include carotenoids, phenolics and
glucosinolate.
▪ Studies on the bioactive compounds showed that their
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties are
beneficial for health.
▪ Watercress is now considered as a super-food.

51. ANY QUESTION?
Please contact
Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD
Email: kevinng68@gmail.com
51