New highlights on the health-improving effects of sulforaphane.
AI Summary
This review examines recent evidence on sulforaphane (SFN), the most studied isothiocyanate compound, and its health benefits across various diseases, particularly diabetes and cancer. The researchers highlight SFN's role in combating oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction through nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway-mediated mechanisms. The study suggests SFN's anti-inflammatory effects work by downregulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), which may improve related processes like hypertrophy and fibrosis. Notably, the review indicates SFN shows contrasting effects in healthy versus cancerous cells - providing protective actions in normal cells while blocking tumor-related factors, reducing cancer development, and inducing cancer cell death in malignant cells. The authors propose that SFN promotes cancer cell death through multiple mechanisms, with reactive oxygen species production being particularly significant. Given these diverse beneficial properties, the researchers position SFN as a leading phytochemical in natural medicine approaches to health optimization.
Key Findings
- SFN demonstrates beneficial effects on diabetes and cancer through Nrf2 pathway-mediated mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolism
- Anti-inflammatory effects occur through downregulation of NF-κB, potentially improving hypertrophy and fibrosis
- SFN shows opposite effects in normal versus cancer cells - protective in healthy cells while inducing death in cancer cells
- Cancer cell death is promoted through multiple mechanisms, with reactive oxygen species production being particularly relevant
Abstract
In this paper, we review recent evidence about the beneficial effects of sulforaphane (SFN), which is the most studied member of isothiocyanates, on both in vivo and in vitro models of different diseases, mainly diabetes and cancer. The role of SFN on oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolism is discussed, with emphasis on those nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway-mediated mechanisms. In the case of the anti-inflammatory effects of SFN, the point of convergence seems to be the downregulation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), with the consequent amelioration of other pathogenic processes such as hypertrophy and fibrosis. We emphasized that SFN shows opposite effects in normal and cancer cells at many levels; for instance, while in normal cells it has protective actions, in cancer cells it blocks the induction of factors related to the malignity of tumors, diminishes their development, and induces cell death. SFN is able to promote apoptosis in cancer cells by many mechanisms, the production of reactive oxygen species being one of the most relevant ones. Given its properties, SFN could be considered as a phytochemical at the forefront of natural medicine.
Authors
Alfredo Briones-Herrera, Dianelena Eugenio-Pérez, Jazmin Gabriela Reyes-Ocampo, Susana Rivera-Mancía, José Pedraza-Chaverri