Effect of a Sub-Chronic Oral Exposure of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Var. Italica) By-Products Flour on the Physiological Parameters of FVB/N Mice: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Brassica by-products are a source of natural bioactive molecules such as glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, with potential applications in the nutraceutical and functional food industries. However, the effects of oral sub-chronic exposure to broccoli by-product flour (BF) have not yet been evaluated. The objective of this pilot study was to analyse the effects of BF intake in the physiological parameters of FVB/N mice fed a 6.7% BF-supplemented diet for 21 days. Glucosinolates and their derivatives were also quantified in plasma and urine. BF supplementation significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the accumulation of perirenal adipose tissue. Furthermore, mice supplemented with BF showed significantly lower (p < 0.01) microhematocrit values than control animals, but no impact on the general genotoxicological status nor relevant toxic effects on the liver and kidney were observed. Concerning hepatic and renal antioxidant response, BF supplementation induced a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the liver glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels. In BF-supplemented mice, plasma analysis revealed the presence of the glucosinolates glucobrassicin and glucoerucin, and the isothiocyanates sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Overall, these results show that daily intake of a high dose of BF during three weeks is safe, and enables the bioavailability of beneficial glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. These results allow further testing of the benefits of this BF in animal models of disease, knowing that exposure of up to 6.7% BF does not present relevant toxicity.

Beneficial Effects of Broccoli (Brassica oleraceavaritalica) By-products in Diet-induced Obese Mice

“…Interestingly, BF per se also led to an increase in SOD and GST activity, suggesting that BF enhances the basal antioxidant response. We also observed an induction of liver GST in a previous experiment with healthy mice supplemented with BF (18). This may be explained by the fact that broccoli plants are rich in glucoraphanin, the precursor of sulforaphane (13,57), which in turn is an inducer of liver GST (58).…”

“…The cultivation of broccoli is very popular around the world; however, its harvesting produces a lot of residues and by-products such as leaves, stalks, damaged or low-marketable florets with poor or no economic value (13,14). The broccoli inflorescence, as well as its by-products (leaves and stalks), are a rich source of vitamins A and C, essential mineral nutrients, dietary fiber, phenolic compounds and glucosinolates, with glucoraphanin, the precursor of sulforaphane, being the most abundant (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Thus, the reuse of these by-products with potential health benefits is an important strategy in the fight against environmental and economic problems that the generation of these by-products causes (14).…”

Influence of foliar spray and post-harvest treatments on head yield, shelf-life, and physicochemical qualities of broccoli

“…It is also a good source of vitamins (A, C, and K), isothiocyanates, folates, dietary phenolic compounds, fibers, and essential mineral nutrients. The bioactive compounds and nutritional values are beneficial for the inhibition of carcinogenic, obesity, and cardiovascular ailments ( 17 ). It possesses antioxidants that promote many aspects of health ( 18 , 19 ).…”

Safety of whole seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L emend. Metzg.) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

“…The common practice combines the selection of low‐glucosinolate plant varieties as forage plants and of maximum inclusion rates in animal diets. The applicant also referred to additional animal studies where toxicity of glucosinolates was investigated (Bille et al., 1983 ; Vermorel et al., 1986 ; Bjerg et al., 1989 ; Martins et al., 2022 ). However, none of these studies are suitable for establishing a health‐based guidance value.…”