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Copyright @ Pol J Cosmetol
 
ISSN 1731-0083
Friday, 29.03.2024
PL EN
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Pol J Cosmetol 2018, 21(4): 290-299pladd to cart

Nasturtium officinale (watercress) - a source of plant raw materials with valuable cosmetic, medicinal and pro-health benefits


Marta Klimek-Szczykutowicz, Agnieszka Szopa, Halina Ekiert

Katedra i Zakład Botaniki Farmaceutycznej, Wydział Farmaceutyczny, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum w Krakowie

Summary
The work explored the knowledge about Nasturtium officinale - watercress (Brassicaceae), a cosmetic, medicinal and culinary plant species of increasing popularity in Europe, including Poland. The work presents the botanical, ecological and chemical characteristics of this species. The main components of the raw material, which is the herb (N. officinale herba) are specific glucosinolates (including gluconasturtiin, glucobrassicin, glucoiberin), isothiocyanates and polyphenols. These compounds determine the anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriatic properties that are important in cosmetology, as well as in medicine and dietetic.
The work presents the current state of research on chemistry and biological activity confirmed by scientific studies. The attention was also paid to the ethnopharmacological use of the plant raw material by the inhabitants of: Iran, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Mauritius.
The special concern was given to the possible cosmetic applications. Attention was paid to raw materials obtained from N. officinale, admitted according to the CosIng database for the production of cosmetics in Europe. The work has been enriched with examples of numerous cosmetic products available on the beauty market.
In addition, the current global biotechnology research on this species were presented, among them has participated also the team of the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Jagiellonian University, Medical College.

Key words: watercress, botanical and ecological characteristic, chemical composition, biological activity, cosmetic significance, medicinal and pro-health values, biotechnological research