Metabolic Activity of Radish Sprouts Derived Isothiocyanates in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study the absorption, metabolism and potential health benefits of plant bioactives derived from radish sprouts (Raphanus sativus cv. Rambo), a Brassicaceae species rich in glucosinolates and other phytochemicals. Flies were subjected to a diet supplemented with lyophilized radish sprouts (10.6 g/L) for 10 days, containing high amounts of glucoraphenin and glucoraphasatin, which can be hydrolyzed by myrosinase to the isothiocyanates sulforaphene and raphasatin, respectively. We demonstrate that Drosophila melanogaster takes up and metabolizes isothiocyanates from radish sprouts through the detection of the metabolite sulforaphane-cysteine in fly homogenates. Moreover, we report a decrease in the glucose content of flies, an upregulation of spargel expression, the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian PPARγ-coactivator 1 α, as well as the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. Overall, we show that the consumption of radish sprouts affects energy metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster which is reflected by lower glucose levels and an increased expression of spargel, a central player in mitochondrial biogenesis. These processes are often affected in chronic diseases associated with aging, including type II diabetes mellitus.

Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Plants with Focus on Common Vegetables

“…Similarly, red cabbage varieties exhibited increased AGI activity, with total highest phenolic and diacylated anthocyanin activity obtained from the Koda variety (with an IC 50 value of 3.87 ± 0.12 mg/mL) [58]. Aqueous radish sprout extract was also reported to cause 50% reduction of AG activity at the concentration of 60.7 ± 1.2 mg/mL [59]. Lactucaxanthin, a carotenoid extracted from lettuce, showed AG inhibition with an IC 50 value of 1.84 mg/mL, while acarbose showed a value of 16.19 µg/mL [60].…”

Organoleptic Characteristics of Dairy Products Supplemented with Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (radish) Powder: A Preliminary Study on Efficacy against Diabetes

“…Until now, the major bioactive substances found in Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (radish) were (1) glucosinolates such as glucoerucin, glucoraphanin, glucoraphasatin, glucobrassicin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, 4-methioxyglucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin, and (2) isothiocyanates such as indole-3-carbinol, sulforaphane and sulforaphene [4][5][6]. Among the various bioactive substances, isothiocyanates was a particularly important bioactive substance of Raphanus raphanistrum subsp.…”

“…Among the various bioactive substances, isothiocyanates was a particularly important bioactive substance of Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (radish) [6]. The isothiocyanates were breakdown products resulting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates by myrosinase.…”

“…Since Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (radish) had myrosinase, and also the enzymatic activity of myrosinase was present in the intestinal microflora of the human colon [1,6,7]. Now, the number of diabetic people was dramatically uprising every year.…”

In vitro Antidiabetic Activity of Sulforaphane

“…Sulforaphane is a phytochemical which contains typical isothiocyanates group (NCS group) in cruciferous vegetables 1 such as broccoli sprouts. It exists in a bounded form as glucoraphanin a non-glycoside in which Sulforaphane glucosinolate 2 is a bounded sugar molecule.…”