Three in One: The Potential of Brassica By-Products against Economic Waste, Environmental Hazard, and Metabolic Disruption in Obesity

Abstract

A large amount of waste is generated within the different steps of the food supply chain, representing a significant loss of natural resources, plant material, and economic value for producers and consumers. During harvesting and processing, many parts of edible plants are not sold for consumption and end up as massive waste, adding environmental hazards to the list of concerns regarding food wastage. An example is Brassica oleracea var. Italica (broccoli) by-products, which represent 75% of the plant mass-generated. A growing concern in the Western world is obesity, which results from incorrect lifestyles and comprises an extensive array of co-morbidities. Several studies have linked these co-morbidities to increased oxidative stress, thus, naturally occurring and readily available antioxidant compounds are an attractive way to mitigate metabolic diseases. The idea of by-products selected for their biomedical value is not novel. However, there is innovation underlying the use of Brassica by-products in the context of obesity. For this reason, Brassica by-products are prime candidates suggested to be used in the treatment of obesity due to its bioactive compounds, such as sulforaphane, with antioxidant activity. Here, we review the economic and health potential of Brassica bioactive compounds in the context of obesity.

NRF2 and Mitochondrial Function in Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells

“…Activators of NRF2 also include dietary compounds, such as curcumin, hesperidin, quercetin, steviol glycosides, and sulforaphane, among others, which can ultimately cause the activation of different proteins and increased levels of intracellular antioxidants. This shows that diet can also be an important asset in therapeutic approaches and a possible source of inspiration for new therapies with high patient compliance, possibly even exploiting this facet with other known effects of those compounds, such as the metabolic remodeling induced by some steviol glycosides [ 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ].…”

Major Phytochemical Compounds, In Vitro Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of Six Aqueous and Organic Extracts of Crocus sativus L. Flower Waste

“…The importance of this biomass as a renewable resource for biochemical has increased considerably during recent decades [2]. Nevertheless, unavoidable waste and byproducts can be considered a source of valuable nutrients, which can be used to solve resource limitations and health challenges of humankind in the twenty-first century [3]. Scientific evidence shows that these by products constitute an excellent alternative affording several bioactive compounds that can be isolated and reused.…”

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

“…Broccoli belongs to the genus Brassica, of the family Brassicaceae, which consists of about 350 genera and nearly 3500 species (12). 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).…”

“…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).…”

“…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). Over the years, this vegetable has received great attention from consumers concerned with health since its consumption is beneficial for the prevention of chronic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, cancer and cardiovascular pathologies (19).…”