Glucosinolates from cruciferous vegetables and their potential role in chronic disease: Investigating the preclinical and clinical evidence

Authors/Creators

Emma Connolly, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Marc Sim, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Nikolaj Travica
Wolfgang Marx
Gemma Beasy
Gordon S. Lynch
Catherine P. Bondonno
Joshua R. Lewis, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Jonathan M. Hodgson, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Abstract

An increasing body of evidence highlights the strong potential for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to delay, and often prevent, the onset of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions, and certain cancers. A possible protective component, glucosinolates, which are phytochemicals found almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables, have been identified from preclinical and clinical studies. Current research suggests that glucosinolates (and isothiocyanates) act via several mechanisms, ultimately exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemo-protective effects. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding cruciferous vegetables and their glucosinolates in relation to the specified health conditions. Although there is evidence that consumption of a high glucosinolate diet is linked with reduced incidence of chronic diseases, future large-scale placebo-controlled human trials including standardized glucosinolate supplements are needed.

Document Type

Journal Article

Funding Information

Edith Cowan University - Open Access Support Scheme 2021

National Health and Medical Research Council

Edith Cowan University

Funding Information : https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.767975

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences / Institute for Nutrition Research

RAS ID

37049

Grant Number

NHMRC Number : 1172987, 1116973

Grant Link

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1116973

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Publisher

Frontiers Media S.A.

Identifier

Marc Sim

ORCID : 0000-0001-5166-0605

Joshua Lewis

ORCID : 0000-0003-1003-8443

Jonathan Hodgson

ORCID : 0000-0001-6184-7764

Lauren Blekkenhorst

ORCID : 0000-0003-1561-9052

Comments

Connolly, E. L., Sim, M., Travica, N., Marx, W., Beasy, G., Lynch, G. S., . . . Blekkenhorst, L. C. (2021). Glucosinolates from cruciferous vegetables and their potential role in chronic disease: Investigating the preclinical and clinical evidence. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, article 767975. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.767975