Anticancer and chemopreventive phytochemicals from cruciferous plants

Abstract

Cruciferous veggies are a varied group of vegetables of the family, brassicaceae that includes cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale, arugula, etc., and play a vital part in the human diet. Apart from being a good source of nutrients, they contain various natural compounds that are valuable for human health. Consuming cruciferous veggies can, astonishingly, be helpful in the chemoprevention of cancers. Cruciferous plants contain many bioactive natural products like polyphenols, flavanoids, isothiocyanates, lignans, phytosterols, carotenoids, and indole-3-carbinol. The most studied bioactive phytocompounds found in cruciferous veggies include glucosinolates and indole-3-carbinol. Brassica vegetables with glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products exhibit several biological properties like antioxidant, chemopreventive, and anti-carcinogenic properties. In addition, they are found to be nontoxic with negligible adverse effects. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) and indoles inhibit carcinogenesis in various organs of mice and rats, including the breast, urinary bladder, liver, lung, colon, and stomach. Likewise, sulforaphane of cruciferous plants is found effective as antioxidant, anticancer, and chemopreventive agent. These compounds safeguard cells from DNA damage, induce apoptosis, nullify carcinogens, and inhibit angiogenesis and migration of tumor cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments have disclosed various potential pathways through which these compounds prevent cancer. This chapter aims to highlight the anticancer and chemopreventive effects of various phytochemicals isolated from cruciferous plants.