In vivo antigenotoxic activity of watercress juice (Nasturtium officinale) against induced DNA damage

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the genotoxicity as well as possible protective activity against damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) of the aqueous juice of watercress (Nasturtium officinale, W.T. Aiton) in vivo. Male and female Swiss mice 7-8 weeks old (N = 48) were treated by gavage with 1 g kg(-1) body weight and 0.5 g kg(-1) body weight of watercress juice during 15 consecutive days. Genotoxicity and its possible protective effect were tested by the comet assay in peripheral blood cells and the micronucleus test in bone marrow. In addition, biopsies of the bladder, epididymis and testicles of mice were performed to extend the experimental design. Watercress juice per se did not induce genetic damage according to the comet assay and micronucleus study, exhibiting a protective activity against CP (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The comparative analysis of bladder histological changes obtained in the watercress plus CP group against those treated with CP alone suggests a probable protective effect. Further studies are needed in order to establish the protective role of watercress juice against DNA damage.

Watercress, as a Functional Food, with Protective Effects on Human Health Against Oxidative Stress: A Review Study

“…Moreover, [19] demonstrated that 85 g of raw watercress for eight weeks with a high concentration of glucosinolate and b-carotene could protect lymphocyte DNA against damage in smokers. To corroborate to the last study, [22] demonstrated that animals supplemented for 15 days with watercress juice, explained the role of watercress as a diet component as a protective agent and [25] showed that the Swiss mice after watercress juice supplementation, had chemoprevention effects. Finally, [20] suggestedthat short and long-term watercress ingestion had potential protective effects against exercise-induced DNA damage and lipid peroxidation.…”

A Narrative Review on Therapeutic Potentials of Watercress in Human Disorders

“…WC extract did not activate cytotoxicity, chromosomal instability, and clastogenicity [ 62 ]. In addition, WC extract had no role in genetic damage [ 61 ] and is not genotoxic in vivo [ 63 ].…”

“…Another study showed that the WC extract exerted antigenotoxic activity against oxidative damage after 4 hours of incubation [ 64 ]. In addition, a WC -supplemented diet demonstrated a protecting effect against in vivo DNA damage induced by CP [ 63 ].…”

The influence of different wavelengths of LED light on the production of glucosinolates and phenolic compounds and the antioxidant potential in in vitro cultures of Nasturtium officinale (watercress)

“…Nasturtium officinale is a species known well the from food industry but is also used in phytopharmacology and cosmetology. It has scientifically proven biological activities, such as anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties (Bahramikia and Yazdanparast 2010;Yehuda et al 2012;Casanova et al 2013;Sadeghi et al 2014). They are determined by a wide range of compounds found in the N. officinale plant, e.g.…”