Glucosinolates in Cancer Prevention and Plant Defense
Summary
Glucosinolates are sulphur-containing secondary metabolites predominantly found in Brassicaceae species. Upon tissue disruption, the enzyme myrosinase catalyses their hydrolysis to bioactive products such as isothiocyanates, nitriles and indoles. In plants, these hydrolysis products act as potent deterrents against herbivores and pathogens by inhibiting digestive enzymes, disrupting cellular membranes of invaders and modulating defence signalling. In turn, specialised pests may sequester glucosinolates and release isothiocyanates only under attack, thereby gaining protection, and prompting an evolutionary arms race among plants, herbivores and their natural antagonists. In human health, isothiocyanates derived from dietary glucosinolates have been shown to activate cytoprotective pathways, notably the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response, and to suppress pro-inflammatory transcription factors such as NF-κB. These mechanisms contribute to phase II detoxification, induction of cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis in premalignant cells and epigenetic modulation of oncogenes and tumour suppressors. Epidemiological evidence associates regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables with reduced incidence of cancers of the lung, breast, colon and prostate. Advances in food processing, plant breeding and microbiome research are refining strategies to enhance glucosinolate stability, bioavailability and targeted delivery, with implications for preventive nutrition, functional foods and integrated pest management.
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Glucosinolates in Cancer Prevention and Plant Defense publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in glucosinolates in cancer prevention and plant defense across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Glucosinolates: Sulphur-containing plant secondary metabolites found chiefly in Brassicaceae.
Myrosinase: Enzyme that hydrolyses glucosinolates into isothiocyanates, nitriles and other products.
Isothiocyanates: Bioactive hydrolysis products of glucosinolates with chemopreventive and antimicrobial properties.
Nrf2: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; transcription factor regulating antioxidant response elements.
NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; transcription factor involved in inflammation and cell survival.
Mercapturic acid pathway: Detoxification mechanism converting electrophilic metabolites into glutathione conjugates for excretion.
References
- Bioavailability of Glucosinolates and Their Breakdown Products: Impact of Processing. Frontiers in Nutrition (2016).
- Isothiocyanates in medicine: A comprehensive review on phenylethyl-, allyl-, and benzyl-isothiocyanates. Pharmacological Research (2024).
- Metabolism of plant-derived toxins from its insect host increases the success of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology (2023).
- Anti-Carcinogenic Glucosinolates in Cruciferous Vegetables and Their Antagonistic Effects on Prevention of Cancers. Molecules (2018).
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