Absorption and chemopreventive targets of sulforaphane in humans following consumption of broccoli sprouts or a myrosinase-treated broccoli sprout extract

We have previously shown that sulforaphane not only inhibits formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) but also exerts anti-inflammatory effects on AGE-exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and AGE-injected rat aortae. Here we examined the effects of aqueous extract of glucoraphanin-rich broccoli sprouts on formation of AGEs and then investigated whether the extract could attenuate inflammatory or oxidative stress reactions in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)- or AGE-exposed HUVECs. Fresh broccoli sprouts were homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline and filtered through a gauze. After centrifugation, clear extract was obtained. AGE formation was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were measured using a fluorescent dye. Five percent broccoli sprout extract inhibited the formation of AGEs, reduced basal gene expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1,) and receptor for AGEs (RAGE), and upregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA levels in HUVECs. TNF-α upregulated MCP-1, ICAM-1, and RAGE mRNA levels in HUVECs, all of which were attenuated by the treatment with 1% broccoli sprout extract. Pretreatment of 1% broccoli sprout extract prevented the ROS generation in HUVECs evoked by AGEs. The present study demonstrates that sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract could inhibit the AGE-RAGE axis and exhibit anti-inflammatory actions in HUVECs. Supplementation of sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract may play a protective role against vascular injury.

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The Challenges of Designing and Implementing Clinical Trials With Broccoli Sprouts… and Turning Evidence Into Public Health Action

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.648788 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Jed W. Fahey ◽

Thomas W. Kensler

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Public Health Action ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Health Action ◽

Inflammatory Processes ◽

Broccoli Sprout ◽

Selection Of

Broccoli sprouts are a convenient and rich source of the glucosinolate glucoraphanin, which can generate the chemopreventive agent sulforaphane through the catalytic actions of plant myrosinase or β-thioglucosidases in the gut microflora. Sulforaphane, in turn, is an inducer of cytoprotective enzymes through activation of Nrf2 signaling, and a potent inhibitor of carcinogenesis in multiple murine models. Sulforaphane is also protective in models of diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and other inflammatory processes, likely reflecting additional actions of Nrf2 and interactions with other signaling pathways. Translating this efficacy into the design and implementation of clinical chemoprevention trials, especially food-based trials, faces numerous challenges including the selection of the source, placebo, and dose as well as standardization of the formulation of the intervention material. Unlike in animals, purified sulforaphane has had very limited use in clinical studies. We have conducted a series of clinical studies and randomized clinical trials to evaluate the effects of composition (glucoraphanin-rich [± myrosinase] vs. sulforaphane-rich or mixture beverages), formulation (beverage vs. tablet) and dose, on the efficacy of these broccoli sprout-based preparations to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic action, and clinical benefit. While the challenges for the evaluation of broccoli sprouts in clinical trials are themselves formidable, further hurdles must be overcome to bring this science to public health action.

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Composition of the Gut Microbiome Influences Production of Sulforaphane-Nitrile and Iberin-Nitrile from Glucosinolates in Broccoli Sprouts

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13093013 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 3013

Author(s):

John A. Bouranis ◽

Laura M. Beaver ◽

Jaewoo Choi ◽

Carmen P. Wong ◽

Duo Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Individual Variability ◽

16S Sequencing ◽

Microbiome Composition ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Broccoli Sprout

Isothiocyanates, such as sulforaphane and iberin, derived from glucosinolates (GLS) in cruciferous vegetables, are known to prevent and suppress cancer development. GLS can also be converted by bacteria to biologically inert nitriles, such as sulforaphane-nitrile (SFN-NIT) and iberin-nitrile (IBN-NIT), but the role of the gut microbiome in this process is relatively undescribed and SFN-NIT excretion in humans is unknown. An ex vivo fecal incubation model with in vitro digested broccoli sprouts and 16S sequencing was utilized to explore the role of the gut microbiome in SFN- and IBN-NIT production. SFN-NIT excretion was measured among human subjects following broccoli sprout consumption. The fecal culture model showed high inter-individual variability in nitrile production and identified two sub-populations of microbial communities among the fecal cultures, which coincided with a differing abundance of nitriles. The Clostridiaceae family was associated with high levels, while individuals with a low abundance of nitriles were more enriched with taxa from the Enterobacteriaceae family. High levels of inter-individual variation in urine SFN-NIT levels were also observed, with peak excretion of SFN-NIT at 24 h post broccoli sprout consumption. These results suggest that nitrile production from broccoli, as opposed to isothiocyanates, could be influenced by gut microbiome composition, potentially lowering efficacy of cruciferous vegetable interventions.

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Variability of sinapic acid derivatives during germination and their contribution to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of broccoli sprouts on human plasma and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/d0fo01387k ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 7231-7244 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monika Anna Olszewska ◽

Sebastian Granica ◽

Joanna Kolodziejczyk-Czepas ◽

Anna Magiera ◽

Monika Ewa Czerwińska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Response ◽

Human Plasma ◽

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Human Peripheral Blood ◽

Sinapic Acid ◽

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽

Broccoli Sprout

Broccoli sprout extract rich in sinapic acid derivatives prevents oxidative changes in human plasma and modulates inflammatory response in PBMCs.

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Factors Influencing Sulforaphane Content in Broccoli Sprouts and Subsequent Sulforaphane Extraction

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10081927 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1927

Author(s):

Jan Tříska ◽

Josef Balík ◽

Milan Houška ◽

Pavla Novotná ◽

Martin Magner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein A ◽

Extraction Process ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Heating Time ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Constant Ratio ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

Temperature Heating ◽

Broccoli Sprout

Broccoli sprouts contain 10–100 times higher levels of sulforaphane than mature plants, something that has been well known since 1997. Sulforaphane has a whole range of unique biological properties, and it is especially an inducer of phase 2 detoxication enzymes. Therefore, its use has been intensively studied in the field of health and nutrition. The formation of sulforaphane is controlled by the epithiospecifier protein, a myrosinase co-factor, which is temperature-specific. This paper studies the influence of temperature, heating time, the addition of myrosinase in the form of Raphanus sativus sprouts in constant ratio to broccoli sprouts, and other technological steps on the final sulforaphane content in broccoli sprout homogenates. These technological steps are very important for preserving sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts, but there are some limitations concerning the amount of sulforaphane. We focused, therefore, on the extraction process, using suitable β-cyclodextrin, hexane and ethanol, with the goal of increasing the amount of sulforaphane in the final extract, thus stabilizing it and reducing the required amount sulforaphane needed, e.g., as a dietary supplement.

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Enhancing sulforaphane absorption and excretion in healthy men through the combined consumption of fresh broccoli sprouts and a glucoraphanin-rich powder

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114511004429 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 107 (9) ◽

pp. 1333-1338 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Jenna M. Cramer ◽

Margarita Teran-Garcia ◽

Elizabeth H. Jeffery

Keyword(s):

Health Benefits ◽

Human Diet ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Early Appearance ◽

Broccoli Sprout ◽

Insight Into

Sulforaphane (SF) is a chemopreventive isothiocyanate (ITC) derived from glucoraphanin (GRP) hydrolysis by myrosinase, a thioglucoside present in broccoli. The ability of broccoli powders sold as supplements to provide dietary SF is often of concern as many supplements contain GRP, but lack myrosinase. In a previous study, biomarkers of SF bioavailability from a powder rich in GRP, but lacking myrosinase, were enhanced by co-consumption of a myrosinase-containing air-dried broccoli sprout powder. Here, we studied the absorption of SF from the GRP-rich powder used in the previous study, but in combination with fresh broccoli sprouts, which are commercially available and more applicable to the human diet than air-dried sprout powder. A total of four participants each consumed four meals (separated by 1 week) consisting of dry cereal and yogurt with sprouts equivalent to 70 μmol SF, GRP powder equivalent to 120 μmol SF, both or neither. Metabolites of SF were analysed in blood and urine. The 24 h urinary SF-N-acetylcysteine recovery was 65, 60 and 24 % of the dose ingested from combination, broccoli sprout and GRP powder meals, respectively. In urine and plasma, ITC appearance was delayed following the GRP powder meal compared with the sprout and combination meals. Compared with the GRP powder or sprouts alone, combining broccoli sprouts with the GRP powder synergistically enhanced the early appearance of SF, offering insight into the combination of foods for improved health benefits of foods that reduce the risk for cancer.

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Effect of sucrose and mannitol on the accumulation of health-promoting compounds and the activity of metabolic enzymes in broccoli sprouts

Scientia Horticulturae ◽

10.1016/j.scienta.2011.01.014 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 128 (3) ◽

pp. 159-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Rongfang Guo ◽

Gaofeng Yuan ◽

Qiaomei Wang

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Enzymes ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Health Promoting

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The Effect of Broccoli Sprout Extract on Seasonal Grass Pollen-Induced Allergic Rhinitis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041337 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1337

Author(s):

Joseph Yusin ◽

Vivian Wang ◽

Susanne M. Henning ◽

Jieping Yang ◽

Chi-Hong Tseng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Nasal Spray ◽

Placebo Tablet ◽

Group 4 ◽

Cytokine Levels ◽

Before And After ◽

Group 3 ◽

Nasal Steroid ◽

Group 2 ◽

Broccoli Sprout

Patients exposed to pollutants are more likely to suffer from allergic rhinitis and may benefit from antioxidant treatment. Our study determined if patients diagnosed with grass-induced allergic rhinitis could benefit from broccoli sprout extract (BSE) supplementation. In total, 47 patients were confirmed with grass-induced allergic rhinitis and randomized to one of four groups: group 1 (nasal steroid spray + BSE), group 2 (nasal steroid spray + placebo tablet), group 3 (saline nasal spray + BSE) and group 4 (saline nasal spray + placebo tablet). Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF), Total Nasal Symptoms Scores (TNSS) and nasal mucus cytokine levels were analyzed in samples collected before and after the 3-week intervention. Comparing before and after the intervention, PNIF improved significantly when comparing Groups 1 and 2, vs. placebo, at various time points (p ≤ 0.05 at 5, 15, 60 and 240 min) following nasal challenge, while TNSS was only statistically significant at 5 (p = 0.03), 15 (p = 0.057) and 30 (p = 0.05) minutes. There were no statistically significant differences in various cytokine markers before and after the intervention. Combining nasal corticosteroid with BSE led to the most significant improvement in objective measures.

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Metabolomic analysis based on EESI-MS indicate blue LED light promotes aliphatic-glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts

Journal of Food Composition and Analysis ◽

10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103777 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 97 ◽

pp. 103777

Author(s):

Ahui Xue ◽

Wenjing Liang ◽

Shide Wen ◽

Yuanyuan Gao ◽

Xueyong Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolomic Analysis ◽

Blue Led ◽

Led Light ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Aliphatic Glucosinolates

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Irradiation D-Values for Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella sp. on Inoculated Broccoli Seeds and Effects of Irradiation on Broccoli Sprout Keeping Quality and Seed Viability†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-66.5.760 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

pp. 760-766 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

KATHLEEN T. RAJKOWSKI ◽

GLEN BOYD ◽

DONALD W. THAYER

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Dose Level ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Yield Ratio ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Broccoli Sprouts ◽

Sprout Length ◽

D Values ◽

Irradiation Process

Like alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts can be a vehicle for bacterial pathogens, which can cause illness when they are consumed. The gamma irradiation process was used to reduce numbers of bacterial pathogens on broccoli sprouts and seeds, and the effect of this process on the seeds was studied. The irradiation destruct values for Salmonella sp. and for strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated on broccoli seeds were determined. Results obtained in this study indicate that a dose of 2 kGy reduced total background counts for broccoli sprouts from 106 to 107 CFU/g to 104 to 105 CFU/g and increased the shelf life of the sprouts by 10 days. Yield ratio (wt/wt), germination percentage, sprout length, and thickness were measured to determine the effects of various irradiation doses on the broccoli seeds. Results show a decreased germination percentage at a dose level of 4 kGy, whereas the yield ratio (wt/wt), sprout length, and thickness decreased at the 2-kGy dose level. The radiation doses required to inactivate Salmonella sp. and strains of E. coli O157:H7 were higher than previously reported values. D-values, dose required for a 1-log reduction, for the nonvegetable and vegetable Salmonella sp. isolates were 0.74 and 1.10 kGy, respectively. The values for the nonvegetable and vegetable isolated strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were 1.43 and 1.11 kGy, respectively. With the irradiation process, a dose of up to 2 kGy can extend the shelf life of broccoli sprouts. A dose of >2 kGy would have an adverse effect on the broccoli seed and decrease the yield of broccoli sprouts.

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