Berro Hortelano, Cresson Alénois, Cresson de Jardin, Lepidio, Lepidium sativum, Mastuerzo.
Garden cress is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.
People take garden cress for coughs, vitamin C deficiency, constipation, tendency toward infection (poor immune system), and fluid retention.
How does it work?
Animal research suggests that garden cress might help fight some bacteria and viruses, but there isn't enough information to know if it works in humans.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerInsufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Coughs.
- Vitamin C deficiency.
- Constipation.
- Water retention.
- Strengthening the immune system.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
There isn't enough information to know whether garden cress is safe to use as a medicine. Large amounts might cause irritation of the intestines.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowDiabetes: Garden cress might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Therefore, blood sugar levels need to be monitored closely. Dose adjustments may be necessary for diabetes medications that are taken.
Low potassium levels (hypokalemia): Garden cress might flush potassium out of the body, possibly leading to potassium levels that are too low. Until more is known, use garden cress with caution if you are at risk for potassium deficiency.
Low blood pressure (hypotension): Garden cress might lower blood pressure. There is some concern that garden cress might interfere with blood pressure control in people prone to low blood pressure.
Surgery: Garden cress might lower blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop taking garden cress at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
LithiumInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Garden cress might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking garden cress might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Garden cress might decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking garden cress along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Garden cress might lower blood pressure. Taking garden cress along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Water pills (Diuretic drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Large amounts of garden cress might decrease potassium levels in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking garden cress along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much.
Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.
The appropriate dose of garden cress depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for garden cress. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Abuelgasim A. Hepatoprotective Effect of Lepidium sativum Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Damage in Rats. Research Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2008;3:20-23.
Aburjai, T., Darwish, R. M., Al-Khalil, S., Mahafzah, A., and Al-Abbadi, A. Screening of antibiotic resistant inhibitors from local plant materials against two different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;76(1):39-44. View abstract.
Bermejo. Neglected Crops: 1492 from a Different Perspective. Plant Production and Protection Series No.26.FAO, Rome, Italy 1994;303-332.
Czimber, G. Therapeutic effect and production of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.). Gyogyszereszet (Hungary) 1988;32:79-81.
Diwakar, B. T., Dutta, P. K., Lokesh, B. R., and Naidu, K. A. Bio-availability and metabolism of n-3 fatty acid rich garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seed oil in albino rats. Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 2008;78(2):123-130. View abstract.
Eddouks, M. and Maghrani, M. Effect of Lepidium sativum L. on renal glucose reabsorption and urinary TGF-beta 1 levels in diabetic rats. Phytother.Res 2008;22(1):1-5. View abstract.
Eddouks, M., Maghrani, M., Zeggwagh, N. A., and Michel, J. B. Study of the hypoglycaemic activity of Lepidium sativum L. aqueous extract in normal and diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2-28-2005;97(2):391-395. View abstract.
Gokavi, S. S., Malleshi, N. G., and Guo, M. Chemical composition of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds and its fractions and use of bran as a functional ingredient. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2004;59(3):105-111. View abstract.
Juma, A. H. The effects of Lepidium sativum seeds on fracture-induced healing in rabbits. MedGenMed. 2007;9(2):23. View abstract.
Kassie, F., Laky, B., Gminski, R., Mersch-Sundermann, V., Scharf, G., Lhoste, E., and Kansmuller, S. Effects of garden and water cress juices and their constituents, benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanates, towards benzo(a)pyrene-induced DNA damage: a model study with the single cell gel electrophoresis/Hep G2 assay. Chem Biol Interact. 1-6-2003;142(3):285-296. View abstract.
Kassie, F., Rabot, S., Uhl, M., Huber, W., Qin, H. M., Helma, C., Schulte-Hermann, R., and Knasmuller, S. Chemoprotective effects of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) and its constituents towards 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ)-induced genotoxic effects and colonic preneoplastic lesions. Carcinogenesis 2002;23(7):1155-1161. View abstract.
Lhoste, E. F., Gloux, K., De, Waziers, I, Garrido, S., Lory, S., Philippe, C., Rabot, S., and Knasmuller, S. The activities of several detoxication enzymes are differentially induced by juices of garden cress, water cress and mustard in human HepG2 cells. Chem Biol Interact. 12-7-2004;150(3):211-219. View abstract.
Maghrani, M, Zeggwagh, NA, Michel, JB, and Eddouks, M. Antihypertensive effect of
Maleki, A. and Zarasvand, M. A. Heavy metals in selected edible vegetables and estimation of their daily intake in Sanandaj, Iran. Southeast Asian J Trop.Med.Public Health 2008;39(2):335-340. View abstract.
Mali R. Studies on bronchodilatory effect of Lepidium sativum against allergen induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs. Phcog Mag 2008;4(15)
Mennicke, W. H., Gorler, K., Krumbiegel, G., Lorenz, D., and Rittmann, N. Studies on the metabolism and excretion of benzyl isothiocyanate in man. Xenobiotica 1988;18(4):441-447. View abstract.
Pande, S. Three new phytoconstituents from Lepidium sativum. Die Pharmazie (Germany) 1999;54:851-853.
Patel, N. M and Chauhan, G. M. Suspending properties of the mucilages of Lepidium sativum Linn. (Asario) and Ocimum canum Sims. (Bavchi). Eastern Pharmacist (India) 1987;30:137-138.
Regassa, A. The use of herbal preparations for tick control in western Ethiopia. J S Afr Vet.Assoc 2000;71(4):240-243. View abstract.
Robinson, B., Duwig, C., Bolan, N., Kannathasan, M., and Saravanan, A. Uptake of arsenic by New Zealand watercress (Lepidium sativum). Sci Total Environ 1-1-2003;301(1-3):67-73. View abstract.
Smolinska, B. and Cedzynska, K. EDTA and urease effects on Hg accumulation by Lepidium sativum. Chemosphere 2007;69(9):1388-1395. View abstract.
Souri, E., Amin, G., Farsam, H., and Andaji, S. The antioxidant activity of some commonly used vegetables in Iranian diet. Fitoterapia 2004;75(6):585-588. View abstract.
Spera, G., Cardone, F., Cherubini, G., and Leandri, A. Natural specific radioactivity in different soils. Transfer in the soil plant food chain. Commun Agric Appl.Biol Sci 2003;68(4 Pt B):817-826. View abstract.
Ziska, P., Kindt, A., and Franz, H. Isolation and characterization of a lectin from garden cress (Lepidium sativuum). Acta Histochem. 1982;71(1):29-33. View abstract.
Steinkellner, H., Rabot, S., Freywald, C., Nobis, E., Scharf, G., Chabicovsky, M., Knasmuller, S., and Kassie, F. Effects of cruciferous vegetables and their constituents on drug metabolizing enzymes involved in the bioactivation of DNA-reactive dietary carcinogens. Mutat Res 2001;480-481:285-297. View abstract.