Glucosinolates sulforaphane

These reactions to 4-methylthiobutyl glucosinolate, the precursor for sulforaphane formation, have been extensively studied in Eruca sativa (arugula, rocket).64 A gene controlling variation in the glucosinolates of Arabidopsis is part of the methionine elongation pathway just described.65... 

A related glucosinolate glucoraphanin is found in broccoli, and is associated with beneficial medicinal properties of this vegetable. This is hydrolysed to the isothiocyanate sulforaphane, which is believed to induce carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme systems. 

Isothiocyanates ( mustard oils ) and their glucosinolate precursors are widely distributed in higher plants, especially among cruciferous vegetables, and it has been established recently that sulforaphane, found in various species and particularly in broccoli, is the major source of their anticarcinogenic action [181]. 

Fahey, J.W. and Talalay, R, Antioxidant functions of sulforaphane a potent inducer of phase II detoxication enzymes. Food Chem. Toxicol, 37, 973-979, 1999. Shapiro, T.A., Fahey, J.W., Wade, K.L., Stephenson, K.K., and Talalay, P. Chemo-protective glucosinolates and isothiocyanates of broccoh sprouts metabolism and excretion in humans. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev., 10, 501-508, 2001. Faulkner, K., Mithen, R., and Williamnson, G., Selective increase of the potential anticarcinogen 4-methylsulphinylbutyl glucosinolate in broccoh. Carcinogenesis, 19, 605-609, 1998. 

Broccoli sprouts appear to be an excellent source of glucoraphanin/SF. Standard methods that have been developed for selecting the seeds, growing the sprouts, and analyzing the content of glucosinolates/ITCs [12, 29, 79, 80] hold out the possibility of sprouts with well-defined glucoraphanin/sulforaphane content being made available to the public. 

Conaway CC, Getahun SM, Liebes LL, Pusateri DJ, Topham DKW, Botero-Omary M, Chung F-L. Disposition of glucosinolates and sulforaphane in humans after ingestion of steamed and fresh broccoli. Nutr Cancer 2000 38 168-178. 

M. often serve the plants as defensive substances, they have microbicidal and fungistatic activities. They are relevant for food toxicology because they often have irritant and/or toxic properties and, like the glucosinolates, can induced the development of goiter. Some S. such as sulforaphane and sulforaphene from broccoli are purported to provide protection from cancer. Sulforaphene has antibiotic activity. 

Cruciferous vegetables have recently been identified as possessing anticarcinogenic properties (6). For example, indole-3-carbinol derived from indolylmethyl glucosinolate which is widely present in cruciferous vegetables has been shown to induce estradiol 2-hydroxylation in mice, and thereby reduce the risk of estradiol-linked mammary cancer (7,8). Moreover, 4-methylsulfinyl isothiocyanate (Sulforaphane) isolated from broccoli has been shown to induce several anticarcinogenic protective enzymes (9). However, development of excessive methanethiol-related off-flavors in cruciferous foods (e.g., sauerkraut) detracts from consumer acceptance of these cancer-preventive foods. 

Gasper,A.V. etal. (2005)GlutathioneS-transferase Ml polymorphism and metabolism of sulforaphane from standard and high-glucosinolate broccoli. Am J Clin Nutr 82 (6), 1283-1291... 

Fahey JW, Zalemann AT, Talalay P (2001) The chemical diversity and distribution of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates among plants. Phytochemistry 56(1) 5-51 Fahey JW, Haiistoy X, Dolan PM et al (2002) Sulforaphane inhibits extracellular, intiaceflular, and antibiotic-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and prevents benzo[a]pyreneinduced stomach tumors. P Natl Acad Sci USA 99 7610-7615... 

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