garden cress: an untapped environmentally sustainable...

* UGC, Senior Research Fellow, Food Science and Nutrition, (E-mail: [email protected])** Professor and Head, Food Science & Nutrition, Banasthali University, P.O. Banasthali Vidyapith,

Rajasthan-304022.

JOURNAL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 3:(1) (Jan.-June, 2011): 63-70

Garden Cress: An Untapped EnvironmentallySustainable Foodstuff and Health Enhancer

NIDHI AGARWAL* & SHEEL SHARMA**

INTRODUCTION

At a time of unprecedented climatic and environmental changenutrition knowledge becomes vital in enabling individuals andpopulations to adapt in the most positive manner possible. Thenutritional status of populations, as a recognizable and measurableoutcome, helps in identifying sustainable solutions to the environmentaland economic problems facing global communities. As communitydevelopment priorities merge with those of environmentalconservation, it becomes increasingly clear that unless humanpopulations meet their basic survival needs they cannot afford toconserve. At the same time unless local communities protect theenvironments around them, they have limited hope to thrive beyondthe short term. As nutrition represents the most fundamental of humanneeds, it provides a useful perspective from which to address thisparadox. Nutrition research provides essential information on howenvironmental degradation can lead to major nutrition-related healthproblems such as malnutrition, infectious disease, and contamination.When people have reduced access to and intake of crucial bioresources,they may suffer from protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrientdeficiencies. Diabetes and coronary heart disease that reflect reducedintake of nutrients and non-nutrients protecting health underscore thecost of increased reliance on processed foods or a narrow species baseby industrial societies and urban populations. Major public healthproblems of global importance such as tuberculosis, gastrointestinal

64 / JOURNAL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

diseases, measles, and respiratory disease all reflect the interaction ofnutritional and environmental factors. Nutritional sciences can helpdetermine whether the traditional systems can be adapted for useelsewhere. Coupled with knowledge about the role of nutrition incontemporary health problems, traditional knowledge and resourcescan guide environmental efforts to identify sustainable solutions.

More attention on providing micronutrients such as vitamin A orminerals needs to be applied, however, to identifying crop varietiesand minor/underutilized crops with selective nutritional assets suchas micronutrients, soluble fiber, or antioxidants and to analyzing thenutritional content of indigenous fruits and vegetables and wild ediblespecies.

One of underexplored and underutilized crop that our nature hasgifted us is garden cress (Lepidium sativum, Fam: Cruciferae, Commonnames: Hindi-chansur, Tamil-aliverai, Bengali-alevarie, Marathi-ahliva,Punjabi-shargundai), an annual erect herbaceous plant, cultivated allover India, North America and parts of Europe. Despite ubiquitousoccurrence, people know very little about this nature’s creation of atreasure trove of nutrients. It contains high amount of protein and iron.It has also found to have significant amount of calcium and folic acidin addition to vitamin A and C. Besides, it is also beneficial in treatingand curing certain diseases.

It has been an important medicinal plant since vedic era.

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The seeds of garden cress are aperient, diuretic and gentlystimulant. These are demulcent, aphrodisiac, carminative, galactogogueand emmenagogue (Nadkarni, 1954). These are rubefacient and areapplied as a poultice for hurts and sprains. The root is used in thetreatment of secondary syphilis and tenesmus (Chopra et al., 1986). Apreliminary pharmacological study on seeds of garden cress hassuggested the presence of cardioactive substance and is shown to haveprobable action through adrenergic mechanisms (Vohora and Khan,1977). Aqueous extract of garden cress seeds has been reported toexhibit a potent hypoglycaemic activity in normal and streptozotocininduced diabetic rats (Eddouks et al., 2005).

GARDEN CRESS: AN UNTAPPED ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE… / 65

Aqueous extract of garden cress is found to have antihypertensiveand diuretic effect when studied both in normotensive and spontaneouslyhypertensive rats (Maghrani et al., 2005). The effectiveness of this plantin treatment of bronchial asthma, hiccups, cough with expectoration andbleeding piles has been reported (Chopra et al., 1986).

Garden cress is used to prevent postnatal complications; the seedsof this perform as an aperient when boiled with milk. It also helps inmilk output in lactating mothers.

In this way, this plant has a number of medicinal effects with anaffordable price tag.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was undertaken with the following objectives:1. To assess the nutritive value of garden cress in raw form2. To prepare, standardise and develop a few low cost and

nutritious food products with high acceptability ratingsincorporating garden cress seeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODSCultivation of Plant: Garden cress was cultivated in the fields of KrishiVigyan Kendra (Banasthali University) using certified seeds for cultivation.

Nutrient Analysis: Nutrient analysis was done using standardmethods (Raghuramulu et al., 2003; AOAC, 1980; Sharma, 2007) andtaking samples for each estimation in triplicate. Following nutrientswere estimated Moisture, 1. Protein, 2. Fat, 3. Fibre, 4. Totalcarbohydrate, 5. Iron, 6. Calcium and 7. Phosphorous

Food Product Development: Two food products (Ladoo and Baal ahar)were developed after intensive literature survey and laboratorystandardization, keeping in mind the nutritional needs of people fromall stages of life.

RESULTSNutrient Analysis: The moisture content of garden cress seeds was foundas 3.2 per cent while protein and fat content were recorded 25.3 and 24.5per cent respectively. The fibre and mineral content was estimated at 7.6and 6.4 per cent respectively whereas total carbohydrate by differencewas calculated as 33 per cent. Garden cress seeds were found to be a richsource of iron (100mg/100g) along with being a good source of calcium(377mg/100g) and phosphorous (723 mg/100g). Mathew et al. reported24.3 ± 0.67% protein, 14.9 ± 0.79% fat, 55.4 ± 1.8% carbohydrate, in gardencress seeds. The high fibre value of this seed can contribute to their use


in treatment of constipation and diabetes. Patole et al. reported thatgarden cress seeds reduced the rate of starch hydrolysis in vitro andblood glucose in diabetic subjects. Insoluble fibre helps move food anddigestive by-products through the large intestine (colon) and out of thebody. The faster that food and by-products travel through the digestivetract, the less time there is for potential cancer-causing substances towork. Insoluble fibre acts as a laxative. Soluble fibre helps to reducecholesterol thus reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Patelet al., studied mucilage of L. sativum as emulgent and reported that itexhibited better emulsifying property than gum acacia.

Both the food products (Ladoo and baal ahar) were accepted as foundon the basis of acceptability studies involving sensory evaluation. Butladoo were more acceptable (83.75 ± 12.5), where as baal ahar were lessacceptable (58.81 ± 13.17) in comparison to ladoo. Zanvar & Devi foundthe garden cress seeds biscuits, variation III prepared by using locallyavailable food stuffs more acceptable. The nutrient compositions ofboth the recipes have been as under.

Table 1Composition of Standard and Enriched Ladoo

Ingredients Amount (g)/ Amount (g)/100g100g of Standard of Test ladoo (Enriched

ladoo with Garden cress seeds)

Wheat flour (whole) 15 10Bajra flour 15 10Milk 20 20Jaggery 20 20Gulkand 20 20Garden cress seeds – 10Coconut (scrapped) 10 10Total 100 100

Table 2Composition of Standard and Enriched baal ahar

Ingredients Amount (g)/ Amount (g)/100g of Test100g of Standard baal ahar (Enriched with

baal ahar Garden cress seeds seeds)

Daliya 35 35Green gram dhal (dehusked) 25 20Ground nut 10 10Garden cress seeds – 5Sugar 30 30Total 100 100


Data in Tables 1 and 2 reveal the ingredients and amount that havebeen used in preparation of both recipes (ladoo and baal ahar). Figure 1,2 and 3 depicts the nutrition composition of standard and ladoo. Testladoo, prepared by using garden cress seeds as one of the ingredientswere nutritionally better than standard because garden cress seeds werereported to have rich in protein, iron and calcium because endospermof garden cress seeds were concentrated source of protein and fatwhereas dietary fibre, minerals and carbohydrate were found in goodamount in the bran fraction (Gokavi et al. 2004). The high protein, fat,dietary fibre, calcium, phosphorous and iron contents in this seed bringout its high nutritive value which may be making it useful in postpregnancy diets in India (Mathew et al., 1993) as after pregnancy awoman needs good amount of all nutrients and other masses whorequires additional amount of nutrients that garden cress seeds have.

Figure 4, 5 and 6 shows the nutrient composition of standard andtest baal ahar, which is also nutritionally sound for anaemic person asthis contains very good amount of iron (7.84 mg/100g) and less amountof anti nutrients as tannin, which is considered to be the potential antinutritional factor are mostly present in the seed coat which issignificantly reduced during milling. Reduction of tannin content causebetter absorption of nutrients and improvement in the appearance andtexture. Zanvar & Devi also concluded that the garden cress biscuitswere rich in iron (13.16mg/100g) and found less amounts of antinutrientsdue to processing.

Figure 1: Energy Content (Cal) of Standard and Test Ladoo (Enriched withGarden Cress Seeds Flour)


Figure 2: Nutrition Composition of Standard Ladoo

Figure 3: Nutrition Composition of Test Ladoo (Enriched with Garden CressSeeds Flour)

Figure 4: Energy Content (Cal) of Standard and Test Baal Ahar (Enriched withGarden Cress Seeds)


CONCLUSION

Major health problems of the 21st century include nutritionaldeficiencies and dietary changes in both rural and urban settings.Nutritional analysis, combined with an understanding of traditionalsystems and resources, can help identify the biological and socio -cultural components of solutions to dietary and health problemsassociated with dietary change and adaptive strategies for the future.Addressing nutritional needs offers a primary rationale for thepreservation of traditional knowledge and life-styles, the conservationof wild and cultivated resources, and the sustainable use of theenvironments in which they are located and use of garden cress helpsin preservation of our ancient wisdom and environment.

Figure 5: Nutrition Composition of Standard Baal Ahar

Figure 6: Nutrition Composition of Test Baal Ahar (Enriched with GardenCress Seeds)


References

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AOAC, Official Methods of Analysis 13th Edn. Association of Official AgricultureChemists Washington DC, 1980.

Chopra, R. N., Nayar, S. L. and Chopra, L. C. (1986), ‘Glossary of Indian MedicinalPlants’, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, pp. 845-846.

Eddouks, M., Maghrani, M., Zeggwagh, N. A. and Michel, J. B. (2005), Study ofthe Hypoglycemic Activity of Lepidium sativum L. aqueous Extract in Normaland Diabetic Rats, J. Ethnopharmacology, 97(2), pp. 391-395.

Gokavi, S. S., Nagappa, G. M. & Guo M. (2004), Chemical Composition of GardenCress (Lepidium sativum) Seeds and its Fractions and Use of Bran as aFunctional Ingredient, Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 59, pp. 105-111.

Maghrani, M., Zeggwagh, N. A., Michel, J. B. and Eddouks, M. (2005),Antihypertensive Effect of Lepidium sativum L. in Spontaneously HypertensiveRats, J. Ethnopharmacology, 100 (1-2), pp. 193-197.

Mathew, S., Singhal, R. S. and Kulakrni, P. R. (1993), Some PhysicochemicalCharacteristics of Lepidium sativum (haliv) Seeds. Die Nahrung, 1, pp. 69-71.

Nadkarni, K. M. (1954), ’Indian Material Medica’, Dhootapa Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.,Panvel, pp. 736-737.

Patel, M. M., Chauhan, G. M., Patel, L. D. (1987), Mucilages of Lepidium sativumLinn. (Asario) and Ocimum canum. Sims. (Bavchi) as emulgents. Indian J. Hosp.Pharm, Sep./Oct., pp. 200-202.

Patole, A. P., Agte, V. V., Phadnis, M. C. (1998), Effect of Mucilaginous Seeds onin Vitro Rate of Starch Hydrolysis and Blood Glucose Levels of NIDDMSubjects: With Special Reference to Garden Cress Seeds, J. Med. Aromatic PlantSci., 20, pp. 1005-1008.

Raghuramulu, N., Nair, K. M. and Kalyanasundaram, S, A Manual of LaboratoryTechniques, NIN, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, 2003,56-58, 60-61, 176-184.

Sharma, S. (2007), ‘Experiments and Techniques in Biochemistry’, GalgotiaPublications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp. 55-59, 177-181.

Vohora, S. B. and Khan, M. S. Y. (1977), Pharmacological Studies on Lepidiumsativum Linn. Indian J. Physiol Pharmac., 21(2), pp. 118-120.

Zanvar, V. S. and Devi, R. (2007), Biofortification of Biscuits with Garden CressSeeds for Prevention of Anaemia. Asian Journal of Home Science, 2 (1 & 2),pp. 1-5.

garden cress: an untapped environmentally sustainable...

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