Cruciferous Vegetables and Their Bioactive Metabolites: from Prevention to Novel Therapies of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The Brassicaceae family, known as cruciferous vegetables, includes many economically important species, mainly edible oil plants, vegetable species, spice plants, and feed plants. Cruciferous vegetables are foods rich in nutritive composition and are also a good source of dietary fiber. Besides, cruciferous vegetables contain various bioactive chemicals known as glucosinolates and S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide, including sulphur-containing cancer-protective chemicals. Numerous studies have reported that daily intake of sulphurous vegetables helps prevent cancer formation and reduces cancer incidence, especially in colorectal cancer, through various mechanisms. The potential mechanisms of these compounds in preventing cancer in experimental studies are as follows: protecting cells against DNA damage, inactivating carcinogenic substances, showing antiviral and antibacterial effects, triggering apoptosis in cells with disrupted structure, inhibiting tumour cell migration causing metastasis and the development of tumour-feeding vessels (angiogenesis). These beneficial anticancer effects of cruciferous vegetables are generally associated with glucosinolates in their composition and some secondary metabolites, as well as other phenolic compounds, seed oils, and dietary fiber in the literature. This review aims to examine to the roles of cruciferous vegetables and their important bioactive metabolites in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Characterizing the Antitumor Effect of Coptis chinensis and Mume Fructus against Colorectal Cancer Based on Pharmacological Analysis

“…For example, cruciferous vegetables and their bioactive metabolites play antiviral and antibacterial roles via protecting cells from DNA damage and deactivating oncogenic substances. Additionally, they possess antitumor effects presenting with suppression of metastasis and generation of vessels that supply blood to the tumor through inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting migration [ 52 ]. Flavonoid compounds, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities, are highly effective in alleviating clinical symptoms associated with diarrhea, mucositis, neuropathic pain, and chemotherapy for colorectal cancer [ 53 ].…”

Anaemia in Ruminants Caused by Plant Consumption

“…Although initially the disease was known as “kale anaemia”, other species have demonstrated the same potential harmful effects, such as rape, turnips, brussels sprouts, etc. Brassicaceae species contain at least two crucial bioactive chemicals: glucosinolates and S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SmCo) [ 12 , 112 , 113 , 114 ]. Glucosinolates’ primary role is to defend the plant from harm, such as ingestion by livestock.…”

“…Glucosinolates’ primary role is to defend the plant from harm, such as ingestion by livestock. After that, enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates happened, releasing the sulphur compounds thiocyanates and isothiocyanates [ 114 ]. Initially, these derived compounds were associated with the clinical signs of anaemia observed after ingestion of brassica crops.…”

“…Initially, these derived compounds were associated with the clinical signs of anaemia observed after ingestion of brassica crops. However, these compounds are currently more associated with goiter [ 12 , 114 ].…”

Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Cancer: A Pilot Survey of Attitudes and Habits among Cancer Patients in Italy

“…Recently, an increasing number of publications show the beneficial anticancer effects of traditional or newly discovered herbals and their active metabolites, with some of them also able to overcome multidrug resistance and minimize harmful side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”