Raw Cruciferous Vegetables Research Articles

S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide and glucosinolate levels in Australian-sourced Brassica vegetables before and after domestic cooking

Currently no data exists on S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) levels in Australian-sourced vegetables and limited data exists for glucosinolates. The effect of various cooking methods on the retention of SMCSO and glucosinolates in Australian-sourced vegetables is also limited. This study measured SMCSO and ten glucosinolates in a selection of Australian-sourced Brassica vegetables, both raw and after steaming. We additionally measured SMCSO and glucosinolate levels in broccoli after microwaving, stir-frying and boiling. SMCSO contributed greater dry weight (0.6–1.9 %) than total glucosinolates combined (0.3–1.2 %) in these raw cruciferous vegetables. SMCSO levels from highest to lowest were: Brussels sprouts > broccoli > red cabbage > kale > cauliflower > white cabbage > Chinese cabbage; and glucosinolate levels were: Brussels sprouts > white cabbage > broccoli > kale > red cabbage > Chinese cabbage > cauliflower. Both SMCSO and the ten main glucosinolates quantified were relatively stable after light steaming across all vegetables measured, and after microwaving broccoli. Boiling and stir-frying broccoli led to significant losses in SMCSO and the two dominant glucosinolates, glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin (all p < 0.05). Mild steaming and/or microwaving were preferable in retaining SMCSO and glucosinolates, whilst boiling and stir-frying were least favorable.

The Influence of Dietary Isothiocyanates on the Effectiveness of Mitomycin C and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in Treating Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has high recurrence rates and is often treated with mitomycin C (MMC) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Their efficacy relies on phase 2 enzyme metabolism and immune response activation, respectively. Dietary isothiocyanates, phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables, are phase 2 enzyme inducers and immunomodulators, and may impact treatment outcomes. We investigated the modifying effects of cruciferous vegetable and isothiocyanate intake on recurrence risk following MMC or BCG treatment. Self-reported cruciferous vegetable intake, estimated isothiocyanate intake, and urinary isothiocyanate metabolites were collected from 1158 patients with incident NMIBC in the prospective Be-Well Study. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated from Cox proportional hazards regression models for risk of first recurrences, and random effects Cox shared frailty models for multiple recurrences. Over median follow-up of 23 months, 343 (30%) recurrences occurred. Receipt of MMC and BCG was associated with decreased risks of first recurrence (MMC: HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.46-0.73; BCG: HR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88) and multiple recurrences (MMC: HR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.44-0.68; BCG: HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55-0.95). Patients receiving BCG and having high intake (>2.4 servings/mo), but not low intake, of raw cruciferous vegetables had reduced risk of recurrence (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.86; P for interaction = .02) and multiple recurrences (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34-0.77; P for interaction < .001). The inverse association between MMC receipt and recurrence risk was not modified. For NMIBC patients who receive induction BCG, increasing consumption of raw cruciferous vegetables could be a promising strategy to attenuate recurrence risk.

Cruciferous vegetable consumption and pancreatic cancer: A case-control study

BackgroundPancreatic cancer is a deadly malignancy with limited screening and few modifiable risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between a modifiable lifestyle behavior, cruciferous vegetable consumption, and pancreatic cancer, both overall and by subgroups based on non-modifiable, established risk factors. MethodsWe conducted a hospital-based, case-control study utilizing data from the Patient Epidemiology Data System (1982–1998) at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, NY) which included 183 pancreatic cancer patients and 732 cancer-free controls. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire including a 52-item food frequency questionnaire and other epidemiologic data. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), sex, smoking status, total meat, and family history of pancreatic cancer, was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between cruciferous vegetable consumption and pancreatic cancer. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, smoking status, and BMI. ResultsWe observed inverse associations between cruciferous vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer, with a significant 40% lower odds of pancreatic cancer among subjects consuming >1.5 servings per week (SPW) of raw cruciferous vegetables compared to those consuming less than 0.5 SPW (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39−0.93). Each additional SPW of total, raw, and cooked cruciferous vegetables was associated with a significant 7–15% lower odds of pancreatic cancer, with the strongest association seen in raw cruciferous vegetables (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75−0.95). We observed inverse associations between raw cruciferous vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer among people who were overweight, former smokers, and males, ranging from 50% to 59% lower odds. ConclusionConsuming cruciferous vegetables, especially raw cruciferous vegetables, is a modifiable lifestyle behavior which may be inversely associated with pancreatic cancer, including among subgroups with other non- or not easily modifiable risk factors for this deadly malignancy.

Biomedical application of Indole-3-carbinol: A mini-review

Abstract Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a plant-derived phytochemical produced when raw cruciferous vegetables are chopped, and their plant cells are damaged. I3C is an orally bioactive compound formed upon the hydrolysis of glucosinolate by the plant enzyme myrosinase. Cruciferous vegetables belong to the Brassicaceae family and include many genera and species with potential biomedical applications. I3C is more abundant in certain cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, green peas, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, and has multiple biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Most recent studies indicate that regular consumption of I3C-containing vegetables decreases the rate of various types of cancer. This review focuses on the general biomedical applications of I3C and its role in human wellness.

Cruciferous Vegetable Consumption and Stomach Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Objective: To investigate the association between regular cruciferous vegetable intake and stomach cancer.Methods: A hospital-based, case-control study was conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY, which included 292 stomach cancer patients and 1168 cancer-free controls recruited between 1992 and 1998 as part of the Patient Epidemiology Data System (PEDS). Dietary and other epidemiologic and confounding variables were collected by questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were utilized to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between usual pre-diagnostic cruciferous vegetable intake and stomach cancer, with adjustment for other stomach cancer risk factors and dietary characteristics.Results: We observed strong inverse associations between stomach cancer and highest versus lowest intakes of total cruciferous vegetables (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.83), raw cruciferous vegetables (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.38–0.73), raw broccoli (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43–0.86), raw cauliflower (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35–0.73), and Brussels sprouts (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.48–0.91).Conclusions: These data suggest that consuming raw cruciferous vegetables may be associated with a lower odds of stomach cancer, even after considering other dietary characteristics.

Sulforaphane regulates apoptosis-and proliferation‑related signaling pathways and synergizes with cisplatin to suppress human ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is currently the most life-threatening type of gynecological malignancy with limited treatment options. Therefore, improved targeted therapies are required to combat ovarian cancer across the world. Sulforaphane is found in raw cruciferous vegetables. The chemotherapeutic and anti-carcinogenic properties of sulforaphane have been demonstrated, however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, particularly in ovarian cancer. In the present study, the possibility of repurposing sulforaphane as an anti-ovarian cancer agent was examined. Cell viability and colony formation assay were used to test the anticancer efficiency of sulforaphane. Then wound healing assay, migration assay, cell cycle and apoptosis assays were used to detect how the drug worked on the cells. The mechanism of sulforaphane was investigated by western blot analysis. It was found that sulforaphane effectively suppressed the progression of human ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle, and promoted apoptosis. Sulforaphane inhibited multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways, including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein, cytochrome c, Caspase-3, phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB, P53, P27, Cyclin-D1 and cMyc, and reduced the expression levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in human ovarian cancer cells. Sulforaphane synergized with cisplatin to suppress the cancer cell proliferation and enhance ovarian cancer cell apoptosis. Xenograft experiments in vivo confirmed that sulforaphane effectively suppressed tumor growth by inhibiting ovarian cancer cell proliferation through targeting tumor-related signals. The results indicated that sulforaphane may be repurposed as an effective anti-ovarian cancer agent, with further preclinical or clinical investigations required.

Validity and reproducibility of isothiocyanate intake assesses by food frequency questionnaire in the JPHC-next validation study: Comparison with 12-day weighed food records

Introduction Isothiocyanate (ITC) found in cruciferous vegetables are known for its chemopreventive properties that inhibits phase-I enzyme and activates phase-II enzymes. In epidemiologic studies, dietary ITC has been indicated in prevention of various types of cancer, such as lungs and bladder. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is commonly used to assess ITC intake, which combines with laboratory data on the ITC content of specific cruciferous vegetables. Although availability of ITC depends on the contribution of plant myrosinase in the hydrolysis of glucosinolates, ITC content is measured on the basis of raw cruciferous vegetables in general. To our knowledge, no prospective studies have considered the effect of cooking. Using such databases could limit the study outcome of dietary ITC and disease relationships due to overestimation of ITC intake. Here, we aim to evaluate the validity of FFQ in the estimation of isothiocyanate using 12-day weighed food record (WFR) as the reference method by taking cooking methods into account. Methods Two hundred and forty participants (98 men and 142 women) aged 40–74 years from five areas in the JPHC-NEXT validation study were asked to respond to the 172-item FFQ and provide 12-day WFR as reference. Dietary ITC was calculated by combining the newly developed ITC database after consideration of popular cooking methods used in Japan. As we calculated the percentage of both raw and cooked cruciferous vegetable intake from WFR, cooked ITC intake was estimated from FFQ by weighing the average percentage of raw and cooked cruciferous vegetable on the ITC value. Spearman's correlation coefficients between estimates from FFQ and WFR were calculated and corrected for intra-individual variation of the WFR. Reproducibility of ITC intake was also assessed between 2 FFQs administered at an interval of 1-year. Results The mean intake of isothiocyanate according to FFQ was slightly lower than intake by WFR in men and higher in women. Percentage of difference of ITC were −3% for men and +19% in women. Deattenuated Spearman's correlation coefficient for ITC was 0.36 for men and 0.60 for women. Results were virtually unchanged when we applied the sex-unique percentage of raw and cooked cruciferous vegetable intake from WFR to derive correlation coefficients. Conclusions In conclusion, the validity of FFQ in estimating ITC was moderate. The reason for slightly poor correlation of ITC in men, is probably due to larger variance as a results of smaller sample size than in women. Additional confirmation may be warranted by using urinary isothiocyanate, which reflects the true intake of ITC.

The effects of sulforaphane on canine osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion.

Recent evidence in in vitro and in vivo models suggests that sulforaphane (SFN), found in raw cruciferous vegetables, may have utility in chemoprevention, as an antineoplastic agent and as a free radical scavenger. The effects of SFN alone or with doxorubicin on cell viability were examined, as well as cell cycle kinetics, invasion capabilities and apoptosis in three canine osteosarcoma cell line (D17, OS 2.4 and HMPOS). Results showed that SFN could not induce cell death at potentially physiological concentrations (<50 μM), but significantly diminished cell invasion and downregulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. Modest cell cycle changes were observed in each cell line. When doxorubicin was used in conjunction with SFN, there was a protective effect to doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in D17 and OS 2.4 cells. Further studies examining SFN as a supplement are warranted, particularly in light of pro-proliferative and cytoprotective properties in canine osteosarcoma.

Total isothiocyanate yield from raw cruciferous vegetables commonly consumed in the United States

Dietary isothiocyanates are a group of promising chemopreventive agents obtained primarily from cruciferous vegetables. Due to their potent chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer activities, there is a growing interest in assessing dietary isothiocyanate exposure and its impact on human health. Using the HPLC-based cyclocondensation assay, the current study measured total isothiocyanate yield from raw cruciferous vegetables. A total of 73 samples comprising nine types of cruciferous vegetables were analyzed. We observed a wide range of isothiocyanate content across the individual vegetables with an average level of 16.2μmol/100g wet weight, ranging from 1.5μmol in raw cauliflower to 61.3μmol in raw mustard greens. The data represent the maximum amount of isothiocyanates released from the intake of raw cruciferous vegetables. Given that the vegetables assayed in this study include the most commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables in western diets, the data may be particularly useful in estimation of dietary isothiocyanate exposure in these populations. However, due to the variation observed within each vegetable, biomarkers such as urinary isothiocyanate level may be necessary for accurate estimation of individual exposure.

PTC bitter taste genetic polymorphism, food choices, physical growth in body height and body fat related traits among adolescent girls from Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh (India)

Background: Bitter sensitivity among individuals and ethnic groups is partly due to polymorphic bitter taste receptor genes (TAS2Rs). PTC/PROP bitter taste responsiveness at locus TAS2R38 is a well-established index of individual variation in oral sensation that has been linked with predicting food liking and consumption. Previous studies suggest that the relationship between PTC/PROP and anthropometric traits remains controversial.Objectives: To explore the role of TAS2R38 locus in taste choices, adolescent growth trend for body height, weight and fat patterning among girls and to evaluate their growth status.Materials and methods: Cross-sectional data on 210 girls ranging in age from 11–18 years were collected from Palampur in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh.Results: The proportion of PTC non-tasters was 19.52%. PTC tasters and non-tasters had some differences in their food choices and preferences. More sensitive PTC tasters had a low preference for raw cruciferous vegetables and bitter tasting foods (like bitter gourd) and beverages, while they had higher preference for sweet-tasting foods (p < 0.05). PTC tasters overtook their PTC non-taster counterparts from age 14 through 16 years in having higher mean average skinfold, percentage body fat, fat mass index and fat-free mass index. PTC non-tasters had higher mean stature than tasters through all age groups. PTC tasters had slightly higher mean body weight than tasters at age 11, but in later years the advantage was lost; the total gain among non-tasters through adolescence was higher (78.20%) than tasters (66.92%). PTC thresholds significantly and negatively correlated with body height.Conclusions. TAS2R38 locus seems to have a role in food tastes, choices and preferences. Perceived bitterness of PTC/PROP thresholds were significantly and negatively correlated with body height and fat-free mass. These results, thus, tentatively suggest that the PTC non-taster gene may help in better absorption of calcium than its counter taster allele. Studies on differences in calcium metabolism between PTC tasters and non-tasters are needed to confirm these indications across cultures.

Evidence for Lowered Bladder Cancer Risk with Raw Cruciferous Vegetables

Evidence for Lowered Bladder Cancer Risk with Raw Cruciferous Vegetables

Consumption of Raw Cruciferous Vegetables is Inversely Associated with Bladder Cancer Risk

Cruciferous vegetables contain isothiocyanates, which show potent chemopreventive activity against bladder cancer in both in vitro and in vivo studies. However, previous epidemiologic studies investigating cruciferous vegetable intake and bladder cancer risk have been inconsistent. Cooking can substantially reduce or destroy isothiocyanates, and could account for study inconsistencies. In this hospital-based case-control study involving 275 individuals with incident, primary bladder cancer and 825 individuals without cancer, we examined the usual prediagnostic intake of raw and cooked cruciferous vegetables in relation to bladder cancer risk. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated with unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for smoking and other bladder cancer risk factors. We observed a strong and statistically significant inverse association between bladder cancer risk and raw cruciferous vegetable intake (adjusted OR for highest versus lowest category = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.97), with a significant trend (P = 0.003); there were no significant associations for fruit, total vegetables, or total cruciferous vegetables. The associations observed for total raw crucifers were also observed for individual raw crucifers. The inverse association remained significant among current and heavy smokers with three or more servings per month of raw cruciferous vegetables (adjusted ORs, 0.46 and 0.60; 95% CI, 0.23-0.93 and 0.38-0.93, respectively). These data suggest that cruciferous vegetables, when consumed raw, may reduce the risk of bladder cancer, an effect consistent with the role of dietary isothiocyanates as chemopreventive agents against bladder cancer.

Increase in Cruciferous Vegetable Intake in Women Previously Treated for Breast Cancer Participating in a Dietary Intervention Trial

Consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been associated with reduced breast cancer risk mechanistically and in population-based studies, although evidence has been inconsistent. This inconsistency may be related to limitations in quantifying and qualifying cruciferous vegetable exposure using standard instruments for dietary assessment (for example, food-frequency questionnaires, FFQs) or due to low levels of intake demonstrated among U.S. population samples. Cruciferous vegetable intake data are presented from a longitudinal study of a high-vegetable dietary intervention to reduce breast cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors (n = 1,156; 536 intervention and 620 comparison group subjects). Intake was assessed using repeat administration of an FFQ and cross-sectional administration of a cruciferous vegetable–specific FFQ (CVFFQ). Mean intake in the intervention group assessed using the standard FFQ was 37.7 g/day at baseline and increased to 57.1 g/day at 12 mo (P = 0.0001) and was sustained through 48 mo. Broccoli and cabbage were the most commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables, regardless of the instrument used to assess intake. Differences in intake by group assignment were shown for raw cruciferous vegetables (30.2 g/day vs. 24.6 g/day, assessed using the CVFFQ), suggesting increased exposure to biologically active, cancer-preventive food constituents. These data suggest that this study population will be the first U.S. population sample to provide ample quantity and variety in cruciferous intake to examine whether these vegetables are protective against breast cancer recurrence.