title: Sulforaphane and related mustard oils in focus of cancer prevention and therapy.
abstract: The plant family Brassicaceae, formerly Cruciferae, contains mustard oil glycosides, from which mustard oils are enzymatically hydrolyzed. Mustard oils offer protection from pests, microorganisms and fungi. More than 120 different mustard oils with various biological functions are known. Since ancient times, these substances are used as natural antibiotics, antiviral drugs and antimycotics. The antioxidative effect of mustard oils contributes to protection from DNA damage. Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown preventive and therapeutic effects of crucifers or isolated substances thereof. Particularly well studied is the mustard oil sulforaphane, which is contained in high concentrations in broccoli and its sprouts. As has been shown in mice recently, sulforaphane also targets the most malignant cancer stem cells, which are not affected by conventional cancer treatments. Based on these promising results, the first prospective clinical studies with cancer patients and sulforaphane-enriched broccoli sprouts have now been initiated in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Molecular OncoSurgery Group, University of Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center-G403, Im Neuenheimer Feld 365, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. i.herr@dkfz.de
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lozanovski
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Houben
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schemmer
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Büchler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001937:Brassica; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D005961:Glucosinolates; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C016766:sulforaphane