Background and Objective: Biofilms caused by pathogenic microorganisms that plays an important role against human health. Due to their resistance to detergents and antimicrobial agent, treatment response of affected patients with these bacteria is difficult. This study was done to evaluate the effect of methanol extract of nasturtium officinale plant on growth and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods: In this descriptive - laboratory study, the extraction was done by Maceration in 80% methanol and by rotary evaporator. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nasturtium officinale extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. Biofilm formation was investigated using the microtiter plate and stained with crystal violet.Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration of nasturtium officinale against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 0.625 mg/ml and the Minimum bactericidal concentration of this extract was 1.25 mg/ml. PAO1 strain and 5 clinical strains were able to biofilm formation. Inhibition of biofilm formation by extract of nasturtium officinale plant was dependent to concentration. The highest percentage of inhibition of biofilm formation was in the concentration of 7.5 mg/ml and the lowest percentage of inhibition of biofilm formation was in the concentration of 0.11 mg/ml. The mean of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm inhibition by nasturtium officinale extracts was 72.69±22.27 %. In the concentrations of 7.5, 0.93, 0.46, 0.23 and 0.11 mg/ml, there was a significant difference between clinical strains and PAO1 strain (P<0.05).Conclusion: Methanolic extracts of nasturtium officinale plant has anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background and Objectives: Environmental pollution is the result of industrial societies and industrialization of human society. Copper is an essential micronutrient for plants growth and development when the copper concentration in the water is high, as one of the most toxic heavy metals for living organisms. Some plants are known as copper accumulator. Watercress (nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant species from Brassicaceae family. Greenhouse experiments have showed that watercress has high accumulation ability of some heavy metals.Material and methods: This study aimed to examine the effects of copper on growth and physiological characteristics of nasturtium officinale. Accordingly, effects of different levels of copper sulfate (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 mM) in N. officinale in a complete randomized design with three replications were studied. Rooted cuttings of N. officinale were transferred to hydroponic culture, in 1-L polyethylene pots containing a modified half-strength Hoagland’s solution. Nutrient solutions were renewed weekly and plants were grown in a growth chamber (20.15oC day/night; light intensity 200 mE m-2 s-1, 16 h day-1; relative humidity 75%). After 14 days of pre-culture, plants were exposed to different levels of copper sulfate. The plants were harvested for analysis after having grown in the test solution for 2 weeks.Results: The results showed that in the 4 mM copper treatment, fresh and dry weight of shoots, shoot length, leaf area and RWC increased, but at higher concentrations (8, 12, 16 mM) these characteristics significantly decreased. The root and shoot copper concentrations consistently increased with increasing copper exposure. At the 16 mM of copper in the nutrient solution, the average of copper concentrations in root and shoot was 4210 and 558 mg/g d.w., respectively. According to the results, shoot copper concentration was lower than the root and very little of that was transferred into the shoot.Discussion: In total, according to the results, copper sulfate significantly decreases the shoots and roots of fresh and dry weight as well as root length, shoot length and leaf area, and increases the total chlorophyll, but no significant effect on the amount of Protein, Carbohydrate, Anthocyanin and Carotenoid. Generally, the threshold of this plant is to 4 mM copper.

Background and purpose: Previously, we reported the anti-inflammatory properties of nasturtium officinale (watercress) in several models of acute inflammation. This study was designed to explore the effects of topical and systemic administrations of N. officinale in the two chronic inflammatory models and to evaluate the role of TNF-α,and IL-1β,in these effects. Experimental approach: Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods were used to estimate the extract's total phenol and flavonoid content, respectively. Carrageenan-induced paw edema was carried out and TNF-α,and IL-1β,concentrations in the carrageenan-treated paw tissue were determined. Formalin injection into rat hind paws (7 days) and the application of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on mouse ears (9 days) were used to simulate chronic inflammation. Furthermore, a histological assessment of the inflamed tissues was carried out. Findings/Results: The extract's flavonoid and phenolic contents were 90. 26 ±,4. 81 mg rutin equivalents/g and 68 ±,8. 16 gallic acid equivalents/g gallic acid, respectively. N. officinale pretreatment in all doses administered considerably decreased carrageenan-induced edema. The extract also reduced IL-1β,levels in carrageenantreated paws while did not affect TNF-α,levels. Oral and topical administrations of N. officinale considerably reserved the paw and ear edema. The extract also ameliorated the tissue injuries due to formalin and TPA challenges. Conclusion and implications: The data confirmed the topical and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of watercress against two chronic models of inflammation. They suggested that these properties are not related to TNF-α,but could be attributed to inhibition of IL-1β,and inhibition of leukocyte infiltration.

Aquatic plants are well known in accumulating and in concentrating heavy metals. In this study, several physiological responses of aquatic vascular plant, nasturtium officinale (watercress), which were elevated concentrations of copper, zinc and nickel have been investigated. It was found that nasturtium officinale were able to accumulate both copper and zinc at upper levels, but was able to accumulate to nickel at low levels. The final goal of this work was to examine the copper, zinc and nickel uptake using this aquatic plant from their solutions.

Aim and Background: The effect of silver nanoparticles on inhibiting cancer cells has been determined. One of the ways to optimize nanoparticles is their biosynthesis using plant extract, which can affect their efficiency and anti-cancer effect. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using nasturtium officinale seed extract and its effect on MCF-7 cell line. Materials and methods: The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed using the aqueous extract of Cheshme grass. The compounds in Cheshmeh grass were investigated with the help of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The parameters affecting biosynthesis of nanoparticles, including pH and reaction temperature, were investigated and optimized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy technique. The effect of synthesized nanoparticles on MCF-7 cells was evaluated by measuring cell death and apoptosis by MTT and Annexin V/PI test. Results: The plasmogen resonance absorption band of silver nanoparticles were confirmed. The most composition of Cheshme grass plant was related to benzyl isothiocyanate, phenyl ethyl isothiocyanate, and glucosinolate respectively. The optimal pH for the production of silver nanoparticles was 10, and the nanoparticle biosynthesis was improved by increasing the pH. Also, increasing the temperature up to 65 degrees had a positive effect on biosynthesis and the initial rate of nanoparticle formation. Based on the MTT assay, cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, based on the findings of the flow cytometry of apoptosis toxicity induced in MCF-7 cells at a concentration of 32 μg/ml, apoptosis was observed at about 72. 2%. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Chashmeh grass can be effectively used as a source of reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, and nanoparticles biosynthesized with plant extract can effectively prevent the growth of cancer cells, as an anticancer drug. be used

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Watercress powder on performance and immune responses, by using 200 broilers. The brids were spilt into four groups and each group into five parts which include 10 brids. The levels of zero (N0), 1 (N1), 2 (N2) and 3 % (N3) powder of Watercress containing 82 mg/Kg quercetin were added to basal diet of each group from 4 to 42 day of old. To assay cellular immune responses, 0.1 ml PHA-P (0.2 mg/ml) was injected in the skin fold of wings at 16 d and thickness of skin were measured after 24 and 48 h. The humoral immune responses was estimated by means of injection of the 25% SRBC suspension (0.1 ml) in the breast muscle at 8 and 22 d and the titers of IgG and IgM anti SRBC was determined by haemagglutination test at 21, 28, 35 and 42 d. The results showed that feed conversion ratio was lower in N3 (1.63) than control (1.74; P<0.05). The titer of IgG was higher in N3 (6, 3.8 and 2.53, respectively) than control (4.33, 2.67 and 1.87, respectively) at 28, 35 and 42 d (P<0.05). Cell immune response was higher in N3 (0.22) than control (0.04) after 24 h from PHA-P injection (P<0.05).The results concluded that the addition of the consecutive 3% Watercress powder to diet may improve performance and immune responses of broilers.

Background: Arsenic is one of the most toxic metalloids. Anemia and leukopenia are common results of poisoning with arsenic, which may happen due to a direct hemolytic or cytotoxic effect on blood cells. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract ofnasturtium officinale on blood cells and antioxidant enzymes in rats exposed to sodium (meta) arsenite.Methods: 32 Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups; Group I (normal healthy rats), Group II (treated with 5.5mg/kg of body weight of NaAsO2), Group III (treated with 500mg/kg of body weight of hydro-alcoholic extract ofN. officinale), and Group IV (treated with group II and III supplementations). Blood samples were collected and red blood cell, white blood cell, hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelet, total protein and albumin levels and total antioxidant capacity were measured. Data was analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test.Results: WBC, RBC and Hct were decreased in the rats exposed to NaAsO2 (p<0.05). A significant increase was seen in RBC and Hct after treatment with the plant extract (p<0.05).There was no significant decrease in serum albumin and total protein in the groups exposed to NaAsO2 compared to the group I, but NaAsO2 decreased the total antioxidant capacity, significantly.Conclusion: The nasturtium officinale extract have protective effect on arsenic-induced damage of blood cells.