Watercress company looks set to grow!

It’s been named a 'powerhouse' food because of its nutritional value, and now watercress is the key ingredient in a range of soothing skin care products, launched by an Exeter company.

Dr Kyle Stewart has partnered with Professor Paul Winyard at the University of Exeter, where Dr Stewart also holds an honorary contract, to develop a unique process to make a watercress extract rich in useful compounds for the skin.

Their project was kickstarted through initial funding totalling £150,000, donated by the Torbay Medical Research Fund, and more than £750,000 raised through private investment.

After a decade of research, Watercress Research Limited has its first three products available to pre order, under the brand Prof and Doc.

Dr Stewart said: “We know watercress is a superfood, and it’s no surprise that something so nutritionally dense could also have other beneficial properties. We’re really excited to launch these products, which our research has found can help prevent skin irritation and have a soothing effect. We think this is just the beginning of the potential for our watercress extract, and our product sales will help fund our ongoing research into whether watercress extract could potentially treat some inflammatory skin conditions.”

Watercress Research Limited is an Exeter University spinout business.