Nourishing and healing prowess of garden cress (<i style="">Lepidium sativum </i>Linn.)- A review

Abstract

Garden cress has been considered as an important medicinal plant since the Vedic era. In Ayurveda, it is described as hot, bitter, galactogogue and aphrodisiac and claimed to destroy <i style="">Vata</i> (air) and <i style="">Kapha </i>(phlegm). In Unani system of medicine, seeds and leaves of this plant have been reported to possess diuretic, aperient and aphrodisiac properties and are recommended in inflammation, bronchitis, rheumatism and muscular pain. It is also reported to be useful in the treatment of asthma, cough and bleeding piles<b style="">.</b> The plant is also reported to possess antihemogglutinating, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, diuretic and fracture healing properties. Garden cress<i style=""> </i>(<i style="">Lepidium sativum </i>Linn.) seeds have a rich amount of protein to the extent of 25% and fat (16%). Its bran has a high water holding capacity due to high dietary fibre content (74.3%). In human quest for relieving the masses from the scourge of low nutritional status through non-conventional scarcely explored foodstuffs, some food products have been developed incorporating garden cress which not only support their nutritional status but also have a refreshing and rejuvenating effect.