Anticancer properties of sulforaphane: current insights at the molecular level

Muhammad Asif Ali; Noohela Khan; Nabeeha Kaleem; Waqas Ahmad; Salem Hussain Alharethi; Bandar Alharbi; Hassan H Alhassan; Maher M Al-Enazi; Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis; Babagana Modu; Daniela Calina; Javad Sharifi-Rad

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1168321

Anticancer properties of sulforaphane: current insights at the molecular level

Front Oncol. 2023 Jun 16:13:1168321. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1168321. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
² Department of Nutrition Sciences, Rashid Latif Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
³ Department of Biological Science, College of Arts and Science, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁸ Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁹ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
¹¹ Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Abstract

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate with multiple biomedical applications. Sulforaphane can be extracted from the plants of the genus Brassica. However, broccoli sprouts are the chief source of sulforaphane and are 20 to 50 times richer than mature broccoli as they contain 1,153 mg/100 g. SFN is a secondary metabolite that is produced as a result of the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin (a glucosinolate) by the enzyme myrosinase. This review paper aims to summarize and understand the mechanisms behind the anticancer potential of sulforaphane. The data was collected by searching PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. This paper concludes that sulforaphane provides cancer protection through the alteration of various epigenetic and non-epigenetic pathways. It is a potent anticancer phytochemical that is safe to consume with minimal side effects. However, there is still a need for further research regarding SFN and the development of a standard dose.

Keywords: anticancer mechanisms; apoptosis; cytotoxicity; isothiocyanate; sulforaphane.

Publication types

Review