Extraction and Quantification of Sulforaphane and Indole-3-Carbinol from Rapeseed Tissues Using QuEChERS Coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS

Simultaneous extraction and quantitative analysis of S-Methyl-l-Cysteine Sulfoxide, sulforaphane and glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Sulfur containing compounds including glucosinolates (GLS), sulforaphane (SFN) and S-methyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) have been proposed to be partly responsible for the beneficial health effects of cruciferous vegetables. As such, greater understanding of their measurements within foods is important to estimate intake in humans and to inform dietary intervention studies. Herein is described a simple and sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of 20 GLS, SFN and SMCSO by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Analytes were effectively retained and resolved on an Xbridge C18 column. Detection can be achieved using high resolution or unit resolution mass spectrometry; the latter making the method more applicable to large studies. Quantitative analysis using calibration standards was demonstrated for 10 GLS, SFN and SMCSO. A further 10 GLS were tentatively identified using high resolution mass spectrometry. The use of surrogate GLS standards was shown to be unreliable, with closely related GLS displaying significantly different ionisation efficiencies.

Flavor precursors identification and thermal degradation mechanisms of glucoerucin in fragrant rapeseed oil

The degradation products of glucosinolates endow rapeseed oil with a characteristic aroma, however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, 29 individual glucosinolates were identified in six rapeseeds (Brassica napus) using widely targeted metabolism, including 22 aliphatic, 5 aromatic, and 2 indole glucosinolates. Characterization of thermally induced aromas from new precursors-glucoerucin was performed in different pH matrices via headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Six glucoerucin degradation were identified including 5-methylthio-pentanenitrile and dimethyl trisulfide et al. The results of thermal model showed that Glucoerucin could generate volatile 5-methylthio-pentanenitrile via dehydration and formed 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfanyl)butane via (394.9 μg/kg) by the Rosen rearrangement further product pungent odors 4-isothiocyanato-1-butene (5.6 μg/kg) at pH 5. Sulfur-containing compounds included dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide can provide pungent and cabbage notes in matrices at pH 7 and 9. The results provide a new understanding in the forming mechanism of characteristic odor in fragrant rapeseed oil.

Plant sources, extraction techniques, analytical methods, bioactivity, and bioavailability of sulforaphane: a review

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate commonly found in cruciferous vegetables. It is formed via the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by myrosinase. SFN exerts various biological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory effects, and is widely used in functional foods and clinical medicine. However, the structure of SFN is unstable and easily degradable, and its production is easily affected by temperature, pH, and enzyme activity, which limit its application. Hence, several studies are investigating its physicochemical properties, stability, and biological activity to identify methods to increase its content. This article provides a comprehensive review of the plant sources, extraction and analysis techniques, in vitro and in vivo biological activities, and bioavailability of SFN. This article highlights the importance and provides a reference for the research and application of SFN in the future.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) Sprout Extract in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and a Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury Model

Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli), a member of the cabbage family, is abundant with many nutrients, including vitamins, potassium, fiber, minerals, and phytochemicals. Consequently, it has been used as a functional food additive to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. In the current study, the effects of sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract (BSE) on the inflammatory response were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Comparative high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of sulforaphane content from different extracts revealed that 70% ethanolic BSE contained more sulforaphane than the other extracts. qPCR and enzyme immunoassay analyses revealed that BSE markedly reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, including cyclooxygenase 2, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment with BSE improved the survival rate and suppressed alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase expression in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice, while proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and iNOS decreased dramatically in the LPS-induced liver injury model via BSE treatment. Additionally, F4/80 immunostaining showed that BSE suppressed hepatic macrophage infiltration in the liver after lipopolysaccharide injection. In conclusion, BSE may be a potential nutraceutical for preventing and regulating excessive immune responses in inflammatory disease.

Maximizing the value of indole-3-carbinol, from its distribution in dietary sources, health effects, metabolism, extraction, and analysis in food and biofluids

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a major dietary component produced in Brassica vegetables from glucosinolates (GLS) upon herbivores' attack. The compound is gaining increasing interest due to its anticancer activity. However, reports about improving its level in plants or other sources are still rare. Unfortunately, I3C is unstable in acidic media and tends to polymerize rendering its extraction and detection challenging. This review presents a multifaceted overview of I3C regarding its natural occurrence, biosynthesis, isolation, and extraction procedure from dietary sources, and optimization for the best recovery yield. Further, an overview is presented on its metabolism and biotransformation inside the body to account for its health benefits and factors to ensure the best metabolic yield. Compile of the different analytical approaches for I3C analysis in dietary sources is presented for the first time, together with approaches for its detection and its metabolism in body fluids for proof of efficacy. Lastly, the chemopreventive effects of I3C and the underlying action mechanisms are summarized. Optimizing the yield and methods for the detection of I3C will assist for its incorporation as a nutraceutical or adjuvant in cancer treatment programs. Highlighting the complete biosynthetic pathway and factors involved in I3C production will aid for its future biotechnological production.

A Comprehensive Review of Health-Benefiting Components in Rapeseed Oil

Rapeseed oil is the third most consumed culinary oil in the world. It is well-known for its high content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, which make it of great nutritional value. There is increasing evidence that a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids offers health benefits. Although the consumption of rapeseed oil cuts across many areas around the world, the nutritional elements of rapeseed oil and the exact efficacy of the nutrients remain unclear. In this review, we systematically summarized the latest studies on functional rapeseed components to ascertain which component of canola oil contributes to its function. Apart from unsaturated fatty acids, there are nine functional components in rapeseed oil that contribute to its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective, among others. These nine functional components are vitamin E, flavonoids, squalene, carotenoids, glucoraphanin, indole-3-Carbinol, sterols, phospholipids, and ferulic acid, which themselves or their derivatives have health-benefiting properties. This review sheds light on the health-benefiting effects of rapeseed oil in the hope of further development of functional foods from rapeseed.

Folic acid engineered sulforaphane loaded microbeads for targeting breast cancer

Non-targeted cancer therapy poses a huge risk to the cancer patients' life due to high toxicity offered by chemotherapy. Breast carcinoma is one of such deleterious disease, demanding a highly effectual treatment option which could reduce the toxicity and extend survival rate. Since, folate receptors extensively display themselves on the cancer cell surface, targeting them would help to ameliorate the progression and metastasis. Considering this, we envisaged and developed sulforaphane loaded folate engineered microbeads to target breast cancer cells over-expressing folate receptors. The surface engineered microbeads were optimized and developed using emulsion gelation technique, among which the best developed preparation demonstrated the particle size of 1302 ± 3.98 µm, % EE of 84.1 ± 3.32% and in vitro drug release of 98.1 ± 4.42%@24h. The spherical sized microbead showed controlled release with improved haem-compatibility in comparison to the bare drug. Free radical scavenging activity by ABTS assay showed strong anti-oxidant activity (IC₅₀ 20.62 µg/ml) of the targeted microbeads with profound cancer cell sup pressing effect (IC₅₀ 17.48 ± 3.5 µM) as observed in MCF-7 cells by MTT assay. Finally, in comparison to lone SFN, the targeted therapy showed enhanced uptake by the intestinal villi indicating a suitable oral targeted therapy against breast carcinoma.

Layered Double Hydroxide@Metal-Organic Framework Hybrids for Extraction of Indole-3-Carbinol From Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are rich in glucosinolates, which can be metabolized to produce the antitumor compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C). The conventional solvent extraction method for I3C is inefficient. To improve the extraction efficiency of I3C from cruciferous vegetables, we prepared a metal-organic framework (MOF) material (Fe₃O₄@Zn-Al-LDH@B-D-MIL-100). First, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were introduced to layered double hydroxides by in situ polymerization. Then, the MOF material was grown on the surface of the layered double hydroxide by co-precipitation and the layer-by-layer self-assembly method. This gave Fe₃O₄@Zn-Al-LDH@B-D-MIL-100, which was characterized using a variety of techniques. The results showed that Fe₃O₄@Zn-Al-LDH@B-D-MIL-100 had a double-layer porous structure, excellent superparamagnetism (11.54955 emu/g), a large specific surface area (174.04 m²/g), and a pore volume (0.26 cm³/g). The extraction conditions for I3C were optimized. Non-linear fitting of the static adsorption model showed that the adsorption was mainly monolayer. Fe₃O₄@Zn-Al-LDH@B-D-MIL-100 had fast adsorption kinetics and could extract 95% of I3C in 45 min. It is superior to the traditional solvent extraction method because of its high enrichment efficiency in a short time and environmental friendliness. The successful preparation of the new nanomaterial will provide a new reference for the enrichment and extraction of the I3C industry.

Assessment of Methodological Pipelines for the Determination of Isothiocyanates Derived from Natural Sources

Isothiocyanates are biologically active secondary metabolites liberated via enzymatic hydrolysis of their sulfur enriched precursors, glucosinolates, upon tissue plant disruption. The importance of this class of compounds lies in their capacity to induce anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and other bioactive properties. As such, their isolation from natural sources is of utmost importance. In this review article, an extensive examination of the various parameters (hydrolysis, extraction, and quantification) affecting the isolation of isothiocyanates from naturally-derived sources is presented. Overall, the effective isolation/extraction and quantification of isothiocyanate is strongly associated with their chemical and physicochemical properties, such as polarity-solubility as well as thermal and acidic stability. Furthermore, the successful activation of myrosinase appears to be a major factor affecting the conversion of glucosinolates into active isothiocyanates.

Optimization of an Extraction Process to Obtain a Food-Grade Sulforaphane-Rich Extract from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a powerful health-promoting compound found in broccoli in the form of its inactive precursor, glucoraphanin (GFN). SFN formation occurs through the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by myrosinase under specific chemical conditions. Its incorporation in food formulations has been hindered by the thermal instability of SFN and low concentration in Brassicaceae. Then, extracting SFN from broccoli at a temperature below 40 °C appears as an option to recover and stabilize SFN, aiming at delivering it as a nutraceutical. We studied an eco-friendly extraction process to obtain an SFN-rich extract from broccoli. The effect of the broccoli mass/solvent ratio, ethanol concentration in the extractant solution, and extraction time on the recovery of SFN, GFN, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity were studied through a Box–Behnken design. The regression models explained more than 70% of the variability in the responses, adequately representing the system. The experimental factors differently affected the bioactive compound recovery and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The extraction conditions that allowed the highest recovery of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were identified and experimentally validated. The results may provide the basis for the design of a process to produce a sulforaphane-rich food supplement or nutraceutical by using a GRAS extractant.