Dietary agents as histone deacetylase inhibitors: sulforaphane and structurally related isothiocyanates

Abstract

Dietary agents such as sulforaphane (SFN) and related isothiocyanates exert anti-cancer effects via multiple mechanisms. These mechanisms include epigenetic changes resulting from the inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Initial studies on HDAC inhibition by SFN in human colon and prostate cancer cells in vitro were supported by experiments in vivo, showing similar HDAC changes in preclinical models of gastrointestinal and prostate cancer. Pilot studies also showed HDAC inhibition in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells when humans consumed a single dose of SFN-rich broccoli sprouts. The possible implications of dietary HDAC inhibitors are discussed here. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and broccoli sprouts. This anticarcinogen was first identified as a potent inducer of phase 2 detoxification enzymes, but evidence is mounting that SFN acts through other chemoprotective mechanisms.1,2 One exciting new avenue of SFN research focuses on the inhibition of HDAC activity. …