IAJPS 2017, 4 (08), 2223-2227 Asra Jabeen et al ISSN 2349-7750

CODEN [USA]: IAJPBB ISSN: 2349-7750

INDO AMERICAN JOURNAL OF

PHARMACEU TICAL SCIENCES

Available online at: http://www.iajps.com Review Article

A REVIEW ON LEPIDIUM SATIVUM

Asra Jabeen*1, Dr. S. Rani2, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim3, Abdul Saleem Mohammad4,
1
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Nizam Institute of Pharmacy, Deshmukhi
(V), Pochampally (M), Behind Mount Opera, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri (Dist)-508284,
Telangana, India.
2
Assistant Professor, Annamalai University, Sadagopan Nagar, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram,
Tamil Nadu 608002, India.
3
Professor and Principal, Prathap Narender Reddy College of Pharmacy, Peddashapur,509325,
Shamshabad, Telangana, India.
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance, Nizam
Institute of Pharmacy, Deshmukhi (V), Pochampally (M), Behind Mount Opera, Yadadri
Bhuvanagiri (Dist)-508284, Telangana, India.

Abstract:
Lepidium sativum plant and seeds are considered one of the popular medicinal herbs used in the community of Saudi
Arabia, Sudan and some other Arabic countries as a good mediator for bone fracture healing in the human skeleton. A
number of recent studies pointed out the traditional uses of Lepidium sativum seeds extract in controlling many clinical
problems. They were used as anti-asthmatic antiscorbutic, aperient, diuretic, galactogogue, poultice and stimulant. The
traditional plants may represent new sources of drugs with stable, biologically active components that can establish a
scientific base for the use of plants in modern medicine. These local ethnomedical preparations and prescriptions of
plant sources should be scientifically evaluated and then disseminated properly.
Key Words: Seeds, garden cress, hydroponic, phytochemicals, nutritional.
Corresponding Author:
Asra Jabeen, QR code
Associate Professor,
Department of Pharmacognosy,
Nizam Institute of Pharmacy, Deshmukhi (V), Pochampally (M),
Behind Mount Opera, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri (Dist)-508284,
Telangana, India.
Phone number: - 9700889601
E-mail address: - asra_pharma@yahoo.com

Please cite this article in press as Asra Jabeen et al, A Review on Lepidium Sativum,Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2017; 4(8).

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INTRODUCTION:[1-9] Edible shoots are typically harvested in one to two

Cress (Lepidium sativum), sometimes referred to as weeks after planting, when they are 5–13 cm (2–5 in)
garden cress to distinguish it from similar plants also tall. Garden cress is added to soups, sandwiches and
referred to as cress (from old Germanic cresso which salads for its tangy flavor. It is also eaten as sprouts,
means sharp, spicy), is a rather fast-growing, edible and the fresh or dried seed pods can be used as a
herb. Garden cress is genetically related to watercress peppery seasoning (haloon). In the United Kingdom,
and mustard, sharing their peppery, tangy flavor and cut cress shoots are commonly used in sandwiches with
aroma. In some regions, garden cress is known as boiled eggs, mayonnaise and salt.Raw cress is 89%
mustard and cress, garden pepper cress, pepperwort, water, 6% carbohydrates (including 1% dietary fiber),
pepper grass, or poor man's pepper. This annual plant 3% protein and less than 1% fat (table). In a 100 gram
can reach a height of 60 cm (~24 inches), with many amount, raw cress supplies 32 calories and numerous
branches on the upper part. The white to pinkish nutrients in significant content, including vitamin K
flowers are only 2 mm (1/12 of an inch) across, (516% of the Daily Value, DV), vitamin C (83% DV)
clustered in branched racemes. When consumed raw, and vitamin A (43% DV). Among dietary minerals,
cress is a high-nutrient food containing substantial manganese levels are high (26% DV) while several
content of vitamins A, C and K and several dietary others, including potassium and magnesium, are in
minerals. moderate contentGarden cress, known as
chandrashoor, and the seeds, known as aleev in
Marathi, or halloo in India, are commonly used in the
system of Ayurveda.
Garden cress is ideally grown hydroponically whereby
the cress is cultivated without soil using mineral
nutrient solutions in water. Garden cress is usually
harvested within two weeks of cultivation and can be
preserved by placing the stems in a water container and
then refrigerating them for at least one week
History [10-12]
It is considered to have originated from Persia and later
spread to the gardens of India, Syria, Greece and
Egypt. Garden cress is still popular and frequently
consumed type of leafy vegetables in Europe,
Fig1: Garden cress is commercially grown in especially in Scandinavia, Netherlands, England and
England, France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. France (centers of the garden cress cultivation) where it
Cultivation of garden cress is practical both on mass is grown commercially. Due to its delightful and
scales and on the individual scale. Garden cress is peppery taste it is grown all over the world and is used
suitable for hydroponic cultivation and thrives in as healthy addition to salads and sandwiches.
slightly alkaline water. In many local markets, the Scientific classification:
demand for hydroponically grown cress can exceed Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
available supply, partially because cress leaves are not Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
suitable for distribution in dried form, so they can only Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
be partially preserved. Consumers commonly acquire Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering
cress as seeds or (in Europe) from markets as boxes of plants)
young live shoots. Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass: Dilleniidae
Order: Capparales
Family: Brassicaceae/Cruciferae (Mustard
family)
Genus: Lepidium L. (Pepperweed)
Species: Lepidium sativum L.
(Gardencress pepperweed)

Chemical Constituents [13-15]

The seeds shows the presence of carbohydrates,
phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins,
saponins and lipids. Thirty four percent of the total
Fig 2: Seeds of Lepidium sativum

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fatty acids are alpha linolenic acid; and the oil has 10. Milk Production
alpha linoleic acid which could give it nutritional Consuming garden cress helps to stimulate the
advantages (Diwakara et al., 2008). The primary fatty mammary glands to start producing milk in lactating
acids in Lepidium sativum oil were oleic and linolenic mothers. Due to this powerful property of garden cress,
acids and was found to contain high concentrations of new mothers are encouraged to eat food containing
tocopherols. It contains good amount of lignans and garden cress to facilitate milk production. Moreover,
antioxidants, which can stabilize the n-3 due to the high protein and iron contents of garden
polyunsaturated fatty acids in its seed oil. The primary cress, it is ideally given post-partum to breastfeeding
phytosterols in Lepidium sativum were sitosterol and mothers.
campesterol, with avenasterol. The plant is known to 11. Aphrodisiac
contain imidazole, lepidine, semilepidinoside A and Consumption of garden cress greatly helps to improve
B, β-carotenes, ascorbic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and boost libido.
palmitic acid, stearic acid, sinapic acid and sinapin. 12. Gastrointestinal Treatment
Benefits of Garden Cress [16-21] Garden cress can be used as a laxative and purgative
1. Medicinal Properties for patients suffering from constipation. Garden cress
Both the leaves, stems and seeds of garden cress are seeds can be blended and mixed with honey, which is
used in preparing traditional medicine for example; the used for treating diarrhoea and dysentery. Garden cress
seed are used as remedy for minimizing asthma can be blended and infused with hot water, which is
symptoms as well as improves lung function in people used for treating colic especially in children.
suffering from asthma. Also garden cress can be used 13. Anti-carcinogenic
for treating patients suffering from bleeding piles. Garden cress seeds have antioxidants that help to
2. Menstrual Cycle Regulation prevent free radicals from damaging the body cells.
The garden cress seeds contain phytochemicals that are Due to this property, it can serve as a chemoprotective
similar to estrogen therefore consuming them helps to drugs for protecting the body from cancerous growths.
make irregular menstruation become more regular. 14. Nutritional Values of Garden Cress
3. Indigestion Garden cress is an excellent source of folic acid,
Garden cress seeds can be eaten to relieve the vitamins C, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, protein,
symptoms of constipation and indigestion. vitamin A, folate and vitamin E. The seeds of garden
4. Respiratory Infection Treatment cress are also highly nutritive and they contain ascorbic
Garden cress seeds can be chewed or blended and acid, tocopherol, folic acid, calcium, linoleic fatty
mixed with honey, which is taken as an expectorant for acids, iron, beta-carotene and arachidic.
treating cold, headache, asthma, sore throat and cough.
5. Iron Deficiency Treatment 15. Memory Booster
Garden cress seeds are used for treating patients Garden cress seeds contain arachidic fatty acid and
suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Consumption of linoleic acids thus can serve as a memory booster.
these seeds help to boost the haemoglobin level over Side-effects of Garden Cress [22-31]
time. 1. Diuretic Properties
6. Culinary Purposes Garden cress contains diuretic properties thus patients
Garden cress is characterised by peppery, aromatic and suffering from frequent passage of water and urine
tangy flavour. It can be eaten raw in salads and should be cautious when using this plant.
sandwiches or used as herbs for food seasoning. The 2. Abortifacient Properties
seeds can also be roasted with salt before eating. Garden cress is abortifacient in nature thus capable of
7. Dermatological Treatment inducing abortion in early pregnant women if taken in
Garden cress seeds can be blended with water and excess. Pregnant women should refrain from eating
honey to form a thick paste that can be applied on garden cress as it has the tendency to induce uterine
the skin to treat sunburn, irritated skins, dry skin and contractions and abortion. Garden cress seeds can
broken lips. increase uterine contraction, thus certain people use it
8. Hair Loss Treatment to induce labor in late stages of pregnancy.
Garden cress is an excellent source of protein and iron 3. Goitrogenic Properties
thus can be used for treating people suffering from hair Garden cress contains goitrogens, which are substances
loss. that subdue the proper functioning of the thyroid gland
9. Immunity Boost through its interference with iodine absorption. If
Consumption of both garden cress stems, leaves and consumed in large quantities can cause the thyroid
seeds help to boost the immune system. gland to enlarge, thereby causing goiter and
hypothyroidism.

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FACTS ON MEDICINAL VALUES: [32-39] regions of Saudi Arabia, such as Hijaz, AL-Qaseem,
Lepidium sativum in general is Antiasthmatic in nature; and the Eastern Province. In Europe and America, the
therefore, it provides natural breathing during Asthma leaves are used in salad. In various countries of
and cures it. It has the ability to improve the appetite in Africa, Lepidium sativum seeds are thought to be an
Anorexia patient. It effectively expels tapeworms from effective medicinal remedy to cure respiratory
the body. It advantageously inhibits the oxidation. It disorders, like bronchitis and asthma. The plant is
provides relief from Hiccups. It protects the body from cultivated as culinary vegetable all over Asia. In South
Skin diseases. It is Stimulant in nature which increases Asia, it is used in traditional medicine to treat asthma,
the stamina. It also stimulates the body and brain bronchitis, and cough and is considered useful as
functions. Thus, it is used to treat Brain Disorders. The abortifacient, antibacterial, aphrodisiac, diuretic,
seeds are optimal to counter Gout. It treats Diarrhea. It expectorant, gastrointestinal stimulant,
has Analgesic properties which potentially relieves gastroprotective, laxative, and stomachic
from pain. It mitigates cough. Lepidium sativum has The plant is known to contain imidazole, lepidine,
Antibacterial attribute which protects the body from semilepidinoside A and B, β-carotenes, ascorbic acid,
bacterial infection. The Antidiabetic attribute is linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid,
essential to lower the blood sugar levels and to cure sinapic acid and sinapin. Lepidium sativum is reported
Diabetes. It heals the inflamed area of the body and to exhibit antihypertensive, diuretic, anti-inflammatory,
inhibits the inflammation. Due to Antihypertensive analgesic, anticoagulant, antirheumatic, hypoglycemic,
property, it is prescribed to treat high blood pressure. It laxative, prokinetic, antidiarrheal, and antispasmodic
is widely used to cure the symptoms of Scurvy. It is properties. It has been shown to possess antiasthmatic
considered as an effective remedy to cure Constipation. and bronchodilatory potential in preliminary studies,
It has Diuretic action which flushes out the toxins from but there is no report available in the literature on the
the body. It effectively purifies and removes the pharmacological basis for its medicinal use. Traditional
impurities from the blood. It avoids the risk of sources of medicinal plants can be extended for future
abdominal diseases. Lepidium Sativum removes bad investigation into the field of pharmacology,
breath of the mouth. The digestive effect of this herb in phytochemistry, ethnobotany and other biological
the body keeps Digestive Disorders at bay. It has the actions for drug discovery.
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