Significant Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Hydrosols from Tropaeolum majus L. Seeds with Multiple Biological Activities.

Tropaeolum majus L. is a traditional medicinal plant with a wide range of biological activities due to the degradation products of the glucosinolate glucotropaeolin. Therefore, the goals of this study were to identify volatiles using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) of the hydrosols (HYs) isolated using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG). Cytotoxic activity was tested against a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), human colon cancer cell line (HCT116), human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS), and healthy cell line (RPE1). The effect on wound healing was investigated using human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), while the antibacterial activity of the HYs was tested against growth and adhesion to a polystyrene surface of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Antiphytoviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was determined. The GC-MS analysis showed that the two main compounds in the HYs of T. majus are benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and benzyl cyanide (BCN) using the MAE (62.29% BITC and 15.02% BCN) and MHG (17.89% BITC and 65.33% BCN) extraction techniques. The HYs obtained using MAE showed better cytotoxic activity against the tested cancer cell lines (IC50 value of 472.61-637.07 µg/mL) compared to the HYs obtained using MHG (IC50 value of 719.01-1307.03 µg/mL). Both concentrations (5 and 20 µg/mL) of T. majus HYs using MAE showed a mild but statistically non-significant effect in promoting gap closure compared with untreated cells, whereas the T. majus HY isolated using MHG at a concentration of 15 µg/mL showed a statistically significant negative effect on wound healing. The test showed that the MIC concentration was above 0.5 mg/mL for the HY isolated using MAE, and 2 mg/mL for the HY isolated using MHG. The HY isolated using MHG reduced the adhesion of E. coli at a concentration of 2 mg/mL, while it also reduced the adhesion of S. aureus at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Both hydrosols showed excellent antiphytoviral activity against TMV, achieving100% inhibition of local lesions on the leaves of infected plants, which is the first time such a result was obtained with a hydrosol treatment. Due to the antiphytoviral activity results, hydrosols of T. majus have a promising future for use in agricultural production.

Tropaeolum majus L. and low dose gamma radiation suppress liver carcinoma development via EGFR-HER2 signaling pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal cancers around the world and remain asymptomatic in early stage. An alcoholic extract prepared from leaves of Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae) was assessed for its potential activity against diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinoma in vivo. Oral administration of the extract significantly decreased the inflammatory marker translation NF-kB and supressed HCC progression in combination with 0.5 Gy gamma radiation via EGF-HER-2 pathway. Histopathological and immunohistopathological features also showed the recovery of a hepatic architecture. Immunohistochemical study showed the T. majus and LDR enhancement effect on proapoptotic markers (caspase-3 and Bax) and inhibition of anti-apoptotic factor (BCl2). HPLC-DAD-MSn analysis of the extract revealed the annotation of twelve compounds. T. majus could mediate a defensive influence against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis and serve as a respectable option in amelioration of the hepatocellular carcinoma development in combination with low dose of gamma radiation.

Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds

The garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) belongs to the family Tropaeolaceae. Native to South America it was brought to Europe in XVI century. It is a plant with numerous healing properties. Medicinal plants such as the garden nasturtium contain trace elements and bioactive compounds which can be easily absorbed by the human body. The flowers and other parts of the garden nasturtium are a good source of micro elements such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, and macro elements, especially of zinc, copper and iron. The essential oil, the extract from the flowers and leaves, and the compounds isolated from these elements have antimicrobial, antifungal, hypotensive, expectorant and anticancer effects. Antioxidant activity of extracts from garden nasturtium is an effect of its high content of compounds such as anthocyanins, polyphenols and vitamin C. Due to its rich phytochemical content and unique elemental composition, the garden nasturtium may be used in the treatment of many diseases for example the illnesses of the respiratory and digestive systems. High content of erucic acid in nasturtium seeds makes it possible to use its oil as treatment in adrenoleukodystrophy. It is also applied in dermatology because it improves the condition of skin and hair. More recently, the flowers of this species have been used as a decorative and edible element of some types of dishes. Aim of the review was to summarize available data concerning garden nasturtium Tropaeolum majus L.

Atividade de tropaeolum majus l. sobre a mobilização e migração leucocitária em modelo de bolsão inflamatório / Activity of tropaeolum majus l. on the mobilization and leukocyte migration in an air pouch model

Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae) é uma importante planta medicinal conhecida popularmente no Brasil como chaguinha, capuchinha ou nastúrcio. Toda parte aérea da planta tem sido utilizada há séculos pela medicina popular. Suas folhas secas ou em infusão são usadas popularmente para o tratamento de várias doenças, incluindo processos inflamatórios. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o perfil da migração leucocitária em vigência de resposta inflamatória aguda, após um tratamento subcrônico com T. majus. Para isto, ratos Wistar machos foram tratados por cinco dias com três diferentes doses do extrato hidroetanólico (EHTM) obtido de T. majus (75, 150 e 300 mg/kg). Os animais controle receberam volume equivalente de solução salina (5,0 ml/kg) ou indometacina (5,0 mg/kg). Durante este período, os animais receberam 10 ml de ar estéril na cavidade subcutânea (air pouch) em três dias alternados. No quinto dia, uma hora após os tratamentos, a resposta inflamatória foi induzida com a administração de 1 ml de carragenina (solução 1%) na cavidade subcutânea, e 6 horas após, amostras de sangue e do exsudato foram coletadas para a determinação de leucócitos totais e para a realização da contagem diferencial. Os resultados demonstraram que a indometacina reduziu o número de leucócitos totais para o exsudato em aproximadamente 65%. O EHTM nas doses de 75 e 300 mg/kg também reduziram significativamente a migração destas células, com valores estimados em 23 e 40%, respectivamente. Estes resultados indicam uma possível atividade anti-inflamatória do T. majus neste modelo experimental, justificando, pelos menos em parte, o uso popular desta espécie.

Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae) is an important medicinal plant popularly known in Brazil as chaguinha, capuchinha or nasturtium. This species has been used for centuries in popular medicine. Dried leaves are popularly used in infusion for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to assess the profile of leukocyte migration during an acute inflammatory response after a subchronic treatment with T. majus. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were treated for five days with three different doses of hydroalcoholic extract (HETM) obtained from T. majus (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg). Control animals received equivalent volume of saline solution (5.0 ml/kg) or indomethacin (5.0 mg/kg). During this period, the animals received 10 ml of sterile air in the subcutaneous cavity (air pouch) on three alternate days. On the fifth day, one hour after treatment, the inflammatory response was induced by administration of 1 ml carrageenan solution (1%) in the subcutaneous cavity, and 6 hours after, blood and exudate samples were collected for determination of total and differential leukocytes. The results showed that indomethacin reduced leukocyte migration in the exudates to about 65%. The HETM at doses of 75 and 300 mg/kg also significantly reduced the migration of these cells, with values ??of 23 and 40%, respectively. These results indicate a possible anti-inflammatory activity of T. majus in this experimental model, explaining, at least in part, the popular use of this species.