Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 6(3), September 2015 pp. 167-175 Exploring potential of fortification by garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) seeds for development of functional foods—A Review C S Singh*, V K Paswan, B Naik and Reeta Centre of Food Science and Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India Received 12 July 2014; Accepted 13 July 2015 Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) belonging to Brassicaceae family is widely grown in India, Europe and US. It has been used as an important medicinal plant since the Vedic era. In Ayurveda, it is considered as hot, bitter, galactogogue and aphrodisiac and claimed to prevent Vata and Kapha. Garden cress seed is good source of essential and non- essential amino acids and they are also used as a novel source of hydrocolloid. Its extract exhibit strong shear-thinning behaviour and is used as a substitute for gum Arabica in the formulation of different products. The garden cress seed oil has a balanced amount of both polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids and is a good source of linolenic acid. It contains natural antioxidants, viz. tocopherols and carotenoids and eugenol that help in preventing cancer and protect the oil from rancidity. Its seed, oil and powder contain significant amount of protein, fat, minerals, fibers and phytochemicals which are incorporated in many functional beverages and foods. A number of clinical trials have been conducted on rats that also support the efficacy of garden cress seeds. The functional properties of Garden cress seeds stimulate us to review its different valuable properties and the fortified products developed by incorporating Garden cress seeds. Keywords: Galactogogue, Lepidium sativum L., Garden cress seed, Fortification, Functional foods, Natural antioxidants. IPC code; Int. cl. (2014.01)−A61K 36/00 Introduction diets in such a way that it acts as medicinal foods in Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is a fast order to exploit several health benefits and to prevent growing annual herb, native to Egypt and west of increased diversity of diseases. Isothiocyanates are Asia and presently it is cultivated all over the world. most important biochemical agents from the human In local languages garden cress (GC) is also known by health point of view as they are the major inducers of Chandrasur and it is considered as an important carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes. The most potent medicinal crop in India1. The plant is an erect, isothiocyanates are benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) glabrous, annual, herbaceous growing up to which is present in ample quantity in garden cress5. the height of about 15-45 cm. It has small GCS have been used in traditional medicine since white flowers in long racemes and the pods are ancient times in India6. The GCS are galactogogue, broadly or obovate, rotund, elliptic, emarginated bitter, thermogenic, depurative, rubefacient, notched at apex and winged. Garden cress can be aphrodisiac, ophthalmic, antiscorbutic, antihistaminic, sown and harvested several times throughout the year; diuretic and act as tonic. Various diseases like asthma, although, January, February and November are the coughs with expectoration, diarrhoea, dysentery, most suitable months of the year to sow in a poultices for sprains, leprosy, skin disease, Mediterranean climate2. Garden cress seed (GCS) splenomegaly, dyspepsia, lumbago, leucorrhoea, possess several of pharmacological properties like scurvy and seminal weakness can be treated using anti-anemic, antioxidant, galactogues, etc. and has garden cress seed7. It is supplemented in the diet of tremendous potential for the development of lactating women to increase the milk secretion during functional food by fortification with it3,4. Generally post natal period and also recommended for the GC is consumed as cooking material and with salad. treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery8,9. Seeds of GC In recent years efforts are made to develop human are prescribed by Ayurvedic practitioners for the treatment of bronchial asthmatic patients. Garden —————— *Correspondent author cress seed oil (GCSO) has a balanced amount of E-mail: [email protected] polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (46.8 %) and 168 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, SEPTEMBER 2015 monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (37.6 %). It quality of GCS protein4,14. All essential amino acids contains natural antioxidants like vitamin A, E and are present in high amounts in garden cress, except eugenol which help to protect cells from damage by tryptophan and S-containing amino acids methionine free radicals10. It also protects oil from oxidation and and cysteine. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are the causing rancidity. It was reported that GCS contain major non-essential amino acids in the GCS. The total 22.5 % protein, 27.5 % fat, 30 % dietary fiber, and essential amino acid percentage (47.08 %), suggests 1193 mg/100 g potassium11. Hence, it can potentially that this seed may contribute significantly to the be used as a functional food. The oil content of dried supply of essential amino acids in the diet. Essential cress seed is 22.7 % and the primary fatty acids found amino acid score is 28.53 % with methionine being in cress oil are oleic (C18:1; 30.6 %), linolenic the most limiting amino acid. Aspartic and glutamic (C18:3; 29.3 %), palmitic (C16:0; 9.4 %), linoleic acids are present in significant amount in this oilseed. (C18:2; 7.6 %), erucic (C22:1; 3.0 %), stearic (C18:0; 11,4 Table 1—Amino acid profile, mineral content and fatty acid 2.8 %) and arachidic (C20:0; 2.3 %) acids . profile of garden cress seed GCSO contain high concentrations of γ- (1422 ppm) and α (356 ppm) tocopherols. Amino acid profile (g/100 g protein) Although, fruit and vegetable juices are rich Essential amino acids sources of vitamin and minerals but these are limited Histidine 3.87±0.14 in protein and fat content. For the compensation of Threonine 2.66±0.09 these components garden cress extract or powder can Arginine 4.51±0.03 be added. As garden cress also acts as thickening Valine 8.04±0.03 agent, the combination of both juices and extract may Methionine 0.97±0.02 Phenyl alanine 5.65±0.03 lead to the formation of health promoting beverages Isoleucine 5.11±0.03 having good textural, sensory attributes and Leucine 8.21±0.01 nutritional properties. A beverage was developed by Lysine 6.26±0.39 combining lime juice and saccharin, honey and garlic 12 Non essential amino acids for the compensation of proteins and fat . Similarly, Aspartic acid 9.76±0.03 Mohite et al designed a health drink by combining Glutamic acid 19.33±0.19 GCS powder with skim milk powder for providing Serine 4.96±0.09 13 promising health benefits . Glycine 5.51±0.07 Alanine 4.83±0,02 Chemical and nutritional composition of garden Tyrosine 2.69±0.09 cress seeds Proline 5.84±0.38 Proximate composition (%) of L. sativum seeds Mineral content (mg/100 g) reported by Zia-Ul-Haq et al indicates the presence Calcium 266.35 of appreciable amounts of protein (24.2±0.5), lipids Copper 5.73 (23.2±0.2), carbohydrates (30.7±1.2), fiber (11.9±0.4), Iron 8.31 ash (7.1±0.1) and moisture (2.9±0.1)14. Proximate Magnesium 339.23 composition varies depending upon plant variety, Manganese 2.00 agronomic practices and stage of collection of seeds Phosphorus 608.63 and climatic and geological condition of area from Potassium 1236.51 Sodium 19. 65 where seeds are collected. It is an important factor for Zinc 6.99 evaluation of nutritional status of fruits and seeds of plants and crops and it dictates further studies on Fatty acid profile (%) 15 Palmitic acid (16:0) 10.30 ± 0.12 components which seem more interesting . Higher Palmitoleic acid (16:1) 0.70 ± 0.30 amounts of ash contents indicate that the GCS are Stearic acid (18:0) 1.90 ± 0.19 good source of minerals. The low moisture content is Oleic acid (18:1) 30.50 ± 0.16 an index of stability, quality and increased shelf life Linoleic acid (18:2) 8.60 ± 0.38 of seeds16. Higher protein and lipid contents indicate Linolenic acid (18:3) 32.18 ± 0.59 that GCS have high food energy. Arachidic acid (20:0) 2.10 ± 0.57 Qualitative and quantitative amino acid profile as Eicosaenoic acid (20:1) 13.40 ± 0.66 presented in Table 1, well introduces the nutritional Adopted from: Gokavi et al and Zia-Ul-Haque et al4 , 14 SINGH et al: GARDEN CRESS LEPIDIUM SATIVUM L. SEEDS- A REVIEW 169 Glutamic acid is an important excitatory beneficial for health. Palmitic acid is the most neurotransmitter and it plays a vital role in abundant saturated fatty acid, in the amounts of metabolism of sugars and fats17. The body uses 10.3±0.12 g/100 g in GCS. Similarly palmitoleic acid methionine to derive the brain food, choline. It also is the least abundant unsaturated fatty acid, with aids in digestion, as well as serving as a fat burner. It values 0.70±0.30 g/100 g in GCS. can interact with other substances to detoxify harmful agents, and is essential for the production of cysteine Physico-chemical properties of garden cress seed oil and taurine. It is also necessary for the production of Physico-chemical parameters provide important niacin and is used by the body to make the information regarding storage, stability and quality neurotransmitter, serotonin18. These play a very of the product. The physico-chemical properties of important role in human nutrition. Lysine helps in GCSO extracted by the different methods21 are proper maintenance of nitrogen balance. L-Tryptophan presented in Table 2.