Bioactivities of Sulfur Compounds in Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are rich in organosulfur compounds such as isothiocyanates and sulfides. While the isothiocyanates, corresponding to pungent principle, are generated from myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis of glucosinolates, the sulfides can be generated non-enzymatically. Recent studies provide evidences that some sulfur compounds in these vegetables show a chemopreventive action against carcinogenesis; while isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane induce phase 2 enzymes (glutathione S-transferase/quinone reductase), disulfides tends to elevate the level of phase 1 and 2 enzymes. Especially, sulforaphane rich in Cruciferae vegetables has been reported to express anticarcinogenic effect in some organs such as liver, kidney or intestine. When the level of sulfur compounds in Cruciferous and Alliaceous vegetables was determined by GC/MS (SIM), the richest in sulforaphane is broccoli followed by turnip, cabbage, radish, kale, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage. Meanwhile, the sulfides are predominant in Alliaceous vegetables such as onion. In related study, the administration of vegetable extract elevated the GST level by 1.5 fold for broccoli, 1.4 fold for radish, and 1.3 for onion. Thus, the vegetables frequently used in Korean dish contain relatively high amount of anticarcinogenic sulfur compounds. Moreover, the combination of broccoli and radish extracts elevated the GST induction up to 1.84 folds of control. In addition, the Kakdugi, fermented radish Kimchi was observed to show a comparable GST induction despite the decomposition of methylthio-3-butenylisothiocyanate (MTBI). Therefore, the combination of vegetables including broccoli, and fermented radish Kimchi would be useful as a functional food for chemoprevention.