Inhibitory Effects of Watercress on Tumor Promotion in a Mouse Model of Two-stage Skin Carcinogenesis / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Cancer prevention is one of the most urgent problems in the field of public health worldwide. The methanol extract of watercress ( Nasturtium officinale) inhibits 12-O-tetradecaonoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice. The extract also exhibits marked antitumor activity in in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test in mice using 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene as an initiator and TPA as a promoter. From the active fraction of the methanol extract, sitosterol 3-O-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated and identified. This compound was evaluated for its inhibitory effects on TPA-induced inflammation (1 µg/ear) in mice, and had a 50% inhibitory dose of 299 nmol/ear. These results indicate that watercress extracts are useful in cancer prevention.

Produção e composição química de hortaliças folhosas em hidroponia / Production and chemical composition of vegetables hardwood in hydroponics

O cultivo hidropônico de hortaliças folhosas vem crescendo acentuadamente nos últimos anos, no entanto, pouco se sabe sobre sua composição química, o que é de extrema importância, tendo em vista a mudança de hábito alimentar de uma fração considerável da população brasileira que busca alimentos de qualidade. Por essa razão, as culturas de agrião, chicória, rúcula e alfaces americana (cv. Lucy Brown) e lisa (cv. Regina) foram produzidas em hidroponia, sistema NFT, buscando-se avaliar o rendimento, teor de nitrato e composição centesimal. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, na Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis (SC), no período de maio a julho de 2004, sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 4 repetições. O espaçamento utilizado foi de 25 cm x 25 cm para as culturas do agrião, chicória e alface (cv. Lucy Brown e cv. Regina) e de 5 cm x 5 cm para a rúcula. A alface cv. Regina e a chicória apresentaram maior número de folhas por planta. O agrião apresentou menor teor de água e maior fitomassa seca da parte aérea. Maior incremento de fitomassa fresca foi obtido na chicória, alface cv. Lucy Brown" e cv. Regina. Maiores teores de lipídios, proteína, resíduo mineral, carboidratos, valor calórico, nitrato e de fibra foram obtidos no agrião. A rúcula apresentou menores valores para as variáveis fitomassa fresca e seca da planta inteira, da parte aérea e da raiz, e número de folhas por planta. Todas as culturas apresentaram boa aparência visual, baixo valor calórico e teores de nitrato adequados ao consumo humano.

The hydroponic cultivation of vegetables has increased markedly in recent years, however, little is known about its chemical composition, which is of extreme importance in view of changing food habits of a considerable fraction of the population seeking food quality. For this reason, cultivation of watercress, chicory, rocket and lettuce American (Lucy Brown) and smooth (cv. Regina) were grown in hydroponics, NFT system, aiming to evaluate the yield, nitrate content and chemical composition. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis city in the Santa Catarina State (Brazil), from may to july 2004 under a completely randomized design with four replications. The spacing used was 25 x 25 cm for the crops of watercress, chicory and lettuce (cv. Lucy Brown and cv. Regina) and 5 x 5 cm to the rocket. The traits were: number of leaves, nitrate content and chemical composition of vegetables. The lettuce cv. Regina and chicory had higher number of leaves per plant. The watercress had lower water content and higher dry mass of shoots. The largest increase in fresh weight was obtained in chicory, lettuce, cv. Regina. Higher levels of lipids, protein, ash, carbohydrates, calories, fiber and nitrate were obtained from the watercress. The rocket had lower values for the variables fresh and dries the whole plant, shoot and root and leaf number per plant. All cultures showed good visual appearance, low calorie and nitrate levels suitable for human consumption.

Floral biology of Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae) and its relation with Astylus variegatus activity (Germar 1824) (Coleoptera: Melyridae)

Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium) is a culture popularly known by its medicinal, ornamental and culinary utility. This work aimed to evaluate the interaction between Astylus variegatus (Germar 1824) (Coleoptera: Melyridae) and the nasturtium flowers associated to the weeks of flourishing, in order to conceive the floral mechanims used by the species to attract A. variegatus. The insects collection was achieved with an entomologic net by the sweeping method, during the weekly flowering, at two hours, from 7am to 5pm. The studies of floral biology were carried out in twenty flowers by the analysis of measures and the arrangement of the floral parts. The nasturtium flower offers pollen and nectar to the insect as a compensation. However, it was observed that A. variegatus only collects pollen as a nutritious resource. Tropaeolum majus presents several flowers for each individual and, during the visits, A. variegatus walked throughout the interior of the flower, among the stamens and contacting the ventral region of its body, and while passing through the stigma it lodged the pollen. Sometimes, it uses the internal cavity for sheltering and mating. The visits occurred preferably on the second and fifth weeks of flourishing, with a populational fluctuation between 9am and 11am.

Tropaeolum majus L. (capuchinha) é uma cultura muito conhecida pelo seu valor medicinal, ornamental e culinário. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a interação entre Astylus variegatus (Germar 1824) (Melyridae) com as flores de capuchinha, associado às semanas de florescimento, visando entender os mecanismos florais utilizados pela espécie na atração de A. variegatus. A coleta dos insetos foi realizada com rede entomológica pelo método varredura durante a floração, semanalmente, a cada duas horas, no período de 7 às 17 horas. Os estudos da biologia floral foram realizados em vinte flores, analisando as medidas e disposição das peças florais. A flor de capuchinha oferece ao inseto pólen e néctar como recompensa, contudo, foi observado que A. variegatus coleta apenas pólen como recurso alimentar. Tropaeolum majus apresenta várias flores por indivíduo sendo que durante as visitas A. variegatus caminhava por todo o interior da flor, entre os estames contatando a região ventral de seu corpo e, ao passarem pelo estigma, depositava o pólen. Em alguns momentos, utiliza a cavidade interna para abrigo e acasalamento. As visitas ocorreram preferencialmente na segunda e quinta semanas de florescimento com pico populacional entre as 9 e 11:00h.

Nasturtium Officinale brown (semri sag: as a vegetable with high nutritional value.

Nasturtium officinale is one of the common plants found growing wildly along the ditches and marshy places. Many people across the globe have been eating this plant as salad or as cooked vegetable since the time immemorial. In Bhutan, many Bhutanese have been eating this plant for centuries. Some Bhutanese have even been taking it for curing many illnesses including liver disorders. The literature review substantiated this curative claims and have been found to be rich in iron and many other micronutrients. This paper describes the plant, its ethno-medical uses, nutritional contents and the methods of use.