THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE L. IN THE ANTICANCER ACTIVITY RESEARCH

Abstract

Cancer is known as one of the main cause of death worldwide. It is difficult to discover novel agents that selectively kill tumor cells or inhibit their proliferation without toxicity. Searching for more active and selective compounds with less toxicity is the main target of cancer researches. Nasturtium officinale L. has been used for a long time as a food and medicinal plant. Main therapeutic effects of this plant are due to rich essential nutrients as well as health-promoting plant secondary metabolites such as phenolics and glucosinolates. The plant was repoted to have antiviral, antiinflammatory, diuretic, expectorant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antihyperlipidemic and anticancer properties. The aim of this study is to make review about the previous reports on secondary metabolites of Nasturtium officinale L. in terms of or their effects against various cancer cell lines.