Sulforaphane as a Potential Protective Phytochemical against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

A wide variety of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including ischemic/traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, share common characteristics such as oxidative stress, misfolded proteins, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and neuronal loss. As no drugs are available to prevent the progression of these neurological disorders, intervention strategies using phytochemicals have been proposed as an alternative form of treatment. Among phytochemicals, isothiocyanate sulforaphane, derived from the hydrolysis of the glucosinolate glucoraphanin mainly present in Brassica vegetables, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several in vitro and in vivo studies. In particular, evidence suggests that sulforaphane beneficial effects could be mainly ascribed to its peculiar ability to activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Therefore, sulforaphane appears to be a promising compound with neuroprotective properties that may play an important role in preventing neurodegeneration.

Nuclear Factor–Erythroid-2–Related Factor 2 in Aging and Lung Fibrosis

“…Activation of Nrf2 by dietary phytochemicals and chemical inducer has been reported to mediate protective effects in certain cellular and animal models of disease. 118,119 SFN, an organosulfur compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, is well-recognized for its robust action on induction of Nrf2. 119 Activation of Nrf2 by SFN in IPF lung fibroblasts inhibited transforming growth factorbeinduced profibrotic effects and induced myofibroblasts to dedifferentiate, 116 an effect that may be important in fibrosis resolution.…”

“…118,119 SFN, an organosulfur compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, is well-recognized for its robust action on induction of Nrf2. 119 Activation of Nrf2 by SFN in IPF lung fibroblasts inhibited transforming growth factorbeinduced profibrotic effects and induced myofibroblasts to dedifferentiate, 116 an effect that may be important in fibrosis resolution. 120 SFN-mediated activation of Nrf2 is also reported to reduce fibrosis in bleomycin mice model of lung fibrosis.…”

Evaluation of phenolic compounds and lipid-lowering effect of Morus nigra leaves extract

“…Since oxidative stress has been implicating on the improvement of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases this source of phenolics could be usefull therapy (Heo and Lee 2006, Tarozzi et al 2013, Wiczkowski et al 2013.…”

Internal asymmetric induction by the C-6 substituent on the oxidation reaction of interglycosidic sulfur atom of thiodisaccharides

“…The cong-uration of the new stereocenters at C-4 and C-2 of 10 and 11 were also assigned on the basis of 1 H NMR signals that appeared in a clean region of the spectrum (no overlapped with other resonances). In the case of 10, the small coupling constant values for 4-H (broad doublet) and 1-H (broad singlet) suggested an equatorial disposition for both protons (3-deoxy-D-lyxohexopyranoside conguration).…”