Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Chinese Medicine

Statement of the Problem: Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) has been long used as a home remedy by different cultures as medicinal plant. The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant activity of watercress.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Hexane and methanol extracts of plant dried materials were used which have been collected from three different villages in Duhok/Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The relationship between secondary metabolites contents and antioxidants were tested by MTT assay.

Findings: The highest antioxidant activity was observed in aerial parts at low altitude at 459 m Zawa village. Low amount of steroids compounds of methanol extract accompanied the weakest activity of antioxidant in the plants that were collected from Kanimasea village at 1340 m altitude. The isolation and purification were done for the hexane and methanol aerial parts extracts. As a result, white crystalline powder was obtained which was conformed to physical, chemical and spectral identification by 1H-NMR; the compound was identified as ß-sitosterol.

Conclusion & Significance: Due to antioxidant potential of Nasturtium officinale extract, it might find application in the prevention of free radical related diseases.