Dietary role of glucosinolate derivatives: a review

The physiological responses encountered when Brassica vegetables are fed to animals are due to the activities of the hydrolysis products of glucosinolates (GS). More than one hundred GS are distributed in plants, primarily amongst the members of the Cruciferae. Attention has been focused on the ability of GS breakdown products to induce a specific set of bio-transformation enzymes in various experimental animals. The beneficial effects of GS breakdown products include anticarcinogenic properties especially in human cervical and endometrial cancer cells, mouse mammary tumorigenesis, human prostate cancer, hormone-related cancers, rainbow trout hepatocarcinogenesis, and human lung cancer. The enhanced antioxidant activity for protection against reactive oxygen species at the cellular level is another important biochemical effect. Growth depression, poor palatability, decreased food efficiency, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid, goitre, liver lesions and necrosis occur when the diet is highly rich in GS products. Some of the GS have been associated with hepatotoxicity, neurological effects, tumor promotion and epithelial hyperplasia either in rats or rabbits. Hence, its intrinsic toxicity and potential as tumor promoter restrict any development in therapeutic applications. This review describes the plethora of effects caused by GS derivatives, both beneficial and adverse on experimental animals.