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Watercress Extract

Nasturtium officinale

Watercress extract contains valuable nutrients such as Vitamins A and C, and other potent antioxidants. When applied to skin, it acts as a strong antioxidant, soothing irritated skin, calming redness.

Why Watercress Extract is Used in Health and Wellbeing Products

Watercress is widely considered one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. It is naturally rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and antioxidant carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin. 

Various health and wellbeing brands use it in their products. Terranova, for example, includes watercress in their supplements as part of their ‘Magnifood’ complex, because this whole-food blend is designed to act synergistically with the vitamins and minerals required to optimise their absorption. The antioxidants and active compounds naturally found in watercress help also protect the sensitive micronutrients in the Terranova product range from oxidative damage, to make sure products stay fresh.

What are the health benefits of watercress extract

Enhanced nutrient density: Watercress is loaded with an impressive array of over 50 vital vitamins and minerals. These include Vitamin K, Vitamin A (beta-carotene), Vitamin C and calcium. It is packed with over 40 unique flavonoids and powerful phytochemicals acting as antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and cellular damage (1).

Synergistic enzymes and co-factors: Watercress provides natural enzymes and phytonutrients that work alongside the isolated vitamins and minerals to improve how the body processes and utilises them (2). 

Vision and eye protection: Lutein and zeaxanthin in the extract act as natural filters for harmful blue light. This is said to lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration and even cataracts (3,4). 

Heart and vascular health: Watercress is rich in dietary nitrates that help convert into nitric oxide in the blood. This expands blood vessels, improves blood flow, and lowers blood pressure (5,6).



Academic References

  1. Gill CI, Haldar S, Boyd LA, Bennett R, Whiteford J, Butler M, Pearson JR, Bradbury I, Rowland IR. Watercress supplementation in diet reduces lymphocyte DNA damage and alters blood antioxidant status in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb;85(2):504-10. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.2.504. PMID: 17284750.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17284750/ 
  2. Buitrago-Villanueva I, Barbosa-Cornelio R, Coy-Barrera E. Specialized Metabolite Profiling-Based Variations of Watercress Leaves (Nasturtium officinale R.Br.) from Hydroponic and Aquaponic Systems. Molecules. 2025 Jan 19;30(2):406. doi: 10.3390/molecules30020406. PMID: 39860275; PMCID: PMC11767583. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11767583/ 
  3. Mulder KA, Innis SM, Rasmussen BF, Wu BT, Richardson KJ, Hasman D. Plasma lutein concentrations are related to dietary intake, but unrelated to dietary saturated fat or cognition in young children. J Nutr Sci. 2014 May 7;3:e11. doi: 10.1017/jns.2014.10. PMID: 25191603; PMCID: PMC4153091. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4153091/ 
  4. Junghans A, Sies H, Stahl W. Macular pigments lutein and zeaxanthin as blue light filters studied in liposomes. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001 Jul 15;391(2):160-4. doi: 10.1006/abbi.2001.2411. PMID: 11437346.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11437346/ 
  5. Olas B. The Cardioprotective Role of Nitrate-Rich Vegetables. Foods. 2024 Feb 24;13(5):691. doi: 10.3390/foods13050691. PMID: 38472804; PMCID: PMC10931520.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10931520/ 
  6. Meamarbashi A, Alipour M. Moderate dose of watercress and red radish does not reduce oxygen consumption during graded exhaustive exercise. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014 Jul;4(4):267-72. PMID: 25068141; PMCID: PMC4110783.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4110783/ 
  7. Maluwa C, Zinan'dala B, Chuljerm H, Parklak W, Kulprachakarn K. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) as a Functional Food for Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Management: A Narrative Review. Life (Basel). 2025 Jul 15;15(7):1104. doi: 10.3390/life15071104. PMID: 40724606; PMCID: PMC12299072.
  8. Winyard PG, Phillips D, Folland H, Caballero-Lima D, Cwikla B, Jenkins ATA, Stewart K. An aqueous watercress extract with topical anti-inflammatory properties in inflamed human skin. bioRxiv. Published September 15, 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.09.09.675161. 
  9. Panahi Kokhdan, Esmaeel, Khodabandehloo, Hadi, Ghahremani, Hossein, Doustimotlagh, Amir Hossein, A Narrative Review on Therapeutic Potentials of Watercress in Human Disorders, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, 5516450, 13 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5516450