Watercress – cultivation methods and health effects

Authors

  • Jan Philpp Schuchardt Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  • Andreas Hahn Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  • Theresa Greupner Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7510-4654
  • Paulina Wasserfurth Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  • María Rosales-López Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  • Johann Hornbacher Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  • Jutta Papenbrock Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0942-4072

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/JABFQ.2019.092.032

Abstract

Watercress, Nasturtium officinale R. Br., is a native water or semiaquatic plant that has a high nutrient density. Physiologically relevant are the various glucosinolates, which possess positive health effects in form of their thio- and isothiocyanates. In an interdisciplinary project, we aim to develop a hydroponic, and finally an aquaponic, circulatory cultivation system and to study the health effects of watercress. In humans, there is a lack of data-based knowledge on potential beneficial health effects of watercress. Growth of watercress
was followed during one season in an open-door hydroponic system. Watercress was also cultivated in the greenhouse in different substrates with different concentrations of nutrients and salt. The biomass production is strongly dependent on the temperature. The glucosinolate contents differ significantly during the growing season, especially during flowering. Watercress naturally grows in nutrient rich fresh waters, however, when cultivated at NaCl concentrations of up to 120 mM the gain in biomass is still high. In a human proof of-concept study, indications for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of fresh watercress were observed already after a single dose intake of fresh watercress (85 g). Further in vivo and in vitro studies are planned to study health beneficial effects of watercress and its metabolic activity.

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Published

2019-09-11

Issue

Section

SPECIAL - 100 years Journal of Applied Botany