Sulforaphane (mainly Broccoli) / GSH Cancer Research Results

SFN, Sulforaphane (mainly Broccoli): Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate derived from glucoraphanin, a compound found predominantly in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. It is well known for its potent antioxidant and detoxification properties and has gained significant attention for its potential chemopreventive and anticancer effects.

Summary
1.primarily attenuates both DNMTs and HDACs, individually suppressing DNA hypermethylation and histones deacetylation, ultimately upregulating NRF2 (best known for NRF2↑)
2.Antioxidant Activity:
• Nrf2 activation leads to the upregulation of a host of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes (e.g., glutathione S-transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase-1), which in turn decrease oxidative stress and lower ROS levels.
3.Pro-oxidant Effects in Cancer Cells and Under High-Dose Conditions (>=10uM?)
• In certain cancer cell types or at higher concentrations, sulforaphane can paradoxically lead to an increase in ROS levels.
• The elevated ROS may overwhelm the cancer cells’ antioxidant defenses, leading to oxidative stress–mediated cell death (apoptosis).
• This context-dependent pro-oxidant effect has been explored for its potential in selectively targeting cancer cells while leaving normal cells less affected.

- Might not be a good candidate for pro-oxidant strategy depending on concentration >10uM?.
- Strong Activation of Nrf2 (best known for) at low to moderate concentrations, hence reduces oxidative stress in both cancer and normal cells.
- AMPK signaling activated by SFN, high concentrations of ROS are produced
- ROS generation also results in depletion of GSH levels
- HIF-1α and VEGF inhibitor
- Might be effective against cancer stem cells
- But I would not combine that with radiation, as Sulforaphane activates the anti-oxidant master regulator of cells.
- “I very much agree: Sulforaphane is a very good addition, even more when the choice is an anti-oxidant therapy”
- well known as HDAC inhibitor (typically 5-10um concentrations)
-A transient decrease in HDAC activity has also been observed in healthy humans 3 h after providing a daily 200 µM SFN dose, resulting in a plasma concentration of SFN metabolites of 0.1–0.2 µM.


Dose/Bioavailabilty information:
SFN at a daily dose of 2.2 µM/kg body weight, with a mean plasma level of 0.13 µM Sprout 127.6 grams = 205uM±19.9 content yields SFN 0.5 to 2uM in plasma.
However, it is important to consider that at lower doses, specifically 2.5 μM, SFN resulted in a slight increase in cell proliferation by 5.18–11.84% within a 6 to 48 h treatment window.
-A therapeutic dose starts at approx 60 grams of the sprouts.
-100 g of Broccoli sprouts contain about 15–20 mg of sulforaphane
–Organic Broccoli Sprout Powder (Health Ranger) – Avmacol® – NanoPSA (a blend of NanoStilbene™ and Broccoli Sprout Extract).
- -750 mg Sulforaphane Glucosinolate in Daily One Serving (2 capsules) (30mg Sulforaphane)

Total sulforaphane metabolite concentration in plasma was the highest (>2 μM) at 3 h in human subjects who consumed fresh broccoli sprouts (40g)
-human studies with broccoli sprouts or extracts report plasma sulforaphane levels in the low micromolar range (typically 1–2 µM) after ingesting realistic, food-based quantities of sprouts (often in the range of 30–50 g of sprouts or a concentrated extract).

BroccoSprouts are young broccoli sprouts that have garnered attention because they contain high amounts of glucoraphanin—a precursor molecule to sulforaphane. Studies have shown that broccoli sprouts can have sulforaphane precursor levels (i.e., glucoraphanin levels) that are 10 to 100 times higher than those found in mature broccoli heads. Glucoraphanin content in broccoli sprouts can range anywhere from about 30 to over 100 mg per 100 grams of fresh sprouts. Once activated (e.g., during consumption when myrosinase acts on glucoraphanin), these levels translate into a significant sulforaphane yield, meaning that even a small amount of broccoli sprouts can deliver a potent dose of this bioactive compound.

Importantly, glucoraphanin itself is not bioactive. Rather, enzymatic hydrolysis by myrosinase, present in the plant tissue or in the mammalian microbiome, is necessary to form the active component, SFN.
- GFN (glucoraphanin) is hydrolyzed in vivo to SFN via the myrosinase, which is present in gut bacteria as well as the plant itself (also in Radish)
- Do not cook the vegetables, or if you do add myrosinase back in by adding radish.
- mild heat of broccoli (60–70 °C) inactivated ESP and preserved myrosinase and increased SF yield 3–7-fold
- chewing of fresh broccoli sprouts increases the interaction of glucosinolates with myrosinase and consequently, increases the bioavailability of SFN in the body

-Note half-life 2-3 hrs.
BioAv is good (15-80%) but requires myrosinase
Pathways:
- induce ROS production
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx,
- Lowers AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓(contrary, actually most raises NRF2), TrxR↓**, GSH↓">GSH, Catalase↓(contrary), HO1↓(contrary), GPx↓
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑">GSH, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, VEGF↓, ROCK1↓, FAK↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, CXCR4↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, DNMTs↓, EZH2↓, P53↑, HSP↓, Sp proteins↓,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, PDGF↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, Hh↓, GLi↓, GLi1↓, CD133↓, β-catenin↓, sox2↓, notch2↓, nestin↓, OCT4↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, 5↓, - SREBP (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 NRF2 / KEAP1 antioxidant response ↑ NRF2 (often insufficient for rescue) ↑ NRF2 (protective) Driver Electrophile-driven stress response Sulforaphane covalently modifies KEAP1, activating NRF2 signaling
2 Histone deacetylases (HDACs) ↓ HDAC activity ↔ mild modulation Driver Epigenetic reprogramming HDAC inhibition alters transcription of cell-cycle and apoptosis genes
3 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (transient / stress-inducing) ↓ ROS Secondary Redox signaling perturbation ROS rise reflects electrophilic stress rather than classic redox cycling
4 Cell cycle regulation ↑ G2/M or G1 arrest ↔ largely spared Secondary Cytostatic growth control Cell-cycle arrest is a prominent phenotype in cancer cells
5 Intrinsic apoptosis ↑ apoptosis (context-dependent) ↔ protected Phenotypic Threshold-dependent cell death Apoptosis occurs when stress exceeds adaptive capacity
6 NF-κB signaling ↓ NF-κB activation ↓ inflammatory NF-κB tone Secondary Suppression of inflammatory survival programs NF-κB inhibition supports anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects


GSH, Glutathione: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione (GSH) is a thiol antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Decreased amounts of GSH and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in tissues are biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, detoxifying harmful substances, and supporting the immune system.
cancer cells can have elevated levels of glutathione, which may help them survive in the oxidative environment created by the immune response and chemotherapy. This can make cancer cells more resistant to treatment.
While glutathione can be obtained from certain foods (like fruits, vegetables, and meats), its absorption from supplements is debated. Some people take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or other precursors to boost glutathione levels, but the effects on cancer prevention or treatment are still being studied.
Depleting glutathione (GSH) to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a strategy that has been explored in cancer research and therapy.
Many cancer cells have altered redox states and may rely on GSH to survive. Increasing ROS levels can induce stress in these cells, potentially leading to cell death.
Certain drugs and compounds can deplete GSH levels. For example, agents like buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibit the synthesis of GSH, leading to its depletion.
Cancer cells tend to exhibit higher levels of intracellular GSH, possibly as an adaptive response to a higher metabolism and thus higher steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

"...intracellular glutathione (GSH) exhibits an astounding antioxidant activity in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)..."
"Cancer cells have a high level of GSH compared to normal cells."
"...cancer cells are affluent with high antioxidant levels, especially with GSH, whose appearance at an elevated concentration of ∼10 mM (10 times less in normal cells) detoxifies the cancer cells." "Therefore, GSH depletion can be assumed to be the key strategy to amplify the oxidative stress in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of cancer cells by fruitful cancer therapy."

The loss of GSH is broadly known to be directly related to the apoptosis progression.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2167- SFN,    The dietary isothiocyanate sulforaphane targets pathways of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and oxidative stress in human pancreatic cancer cells and inhibits tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficient mice
- in-vitro, PC, MIA PaCa-2 - in-vitro, PC, PANC1
Casp8↑, MMP↓, Casp3↑, Apoptosis↑, GSH↓, GSH↑,
1723- SFN,    Sulforaphane as a potential remedy against cancer: Comprehensive mechanistic review
- Review, Var, NA
*NRF2↑, ROS↑, MMP↓, Cyt‑c↑, cl‑PARP↑, Apoptosis↑, AMPK↑, GSH↓,
1501- SFN,    The Inhibitory Effect of Sulforaphane on Bladder Cancer Cell Depends on GSH Depletion-Induced by Nrf2 Translocation
- in-vitro, CRC, T24/HTB-9
Dose↝, NRF2↑, GSH↓, eff↑,
1722- SFN,    Sulforaphane as an anticancer molecule: mechanisms of action, synergistic effects, enhancement of drug safety, and delivery systems
- Review, Var, NA
TumCCA↑, CYP1A1↓, CYP3A4↓, Cyt‑c↑, Casp9↑, Apoptosis↑, ROS↑, MAPK↑, P53↑, BAX↑, ChemoSen↑, HDAC↓, GSH↓, HO-1↑,
1481- SFN,  docx,    Combination of Low-Dose Sulforaphane and Docetaxel on Mitochondrial Function and Metabolic Reprogramming in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
- in-vitro, Pca, LNCaP - in-vitro, Pca, PC3
ChemoSen↑, Casp3↑, ROS↑, Casp8↑, Cyt‑c↑, Glycolysis↓, GSH↓, GSH/GSSG↓, *toxicity↓,
1483- SFN,    Targeting p62 by sulforaphane promotes autolysosomal degradation of SLC7A11, inducing ferroptosis for osteosarcoma treatment
- in-vitro, OS, 143B - in-vitro, Nor, HEK293 - in-vivo, OS, NA
AntiCan↑, *toxicity∅, Ferroptosis↑, ROS↑, lipid-P↑, GSH↓, p62↑, SLC12A5↓, eff↓, GPx4↓, i-Iron↑, eff↓, MDA↑, TumVol↓, TumW↓, Ki-67↓, LC3B↑, *Weight∅,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 6 of 6

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 6

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

CYP1A1↓, 1,   Ferroptosis↑, 1,   GPx4↓, 1,   GSH↓, 6,   GSH↑, 1,   GSH/GSSG↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 1,   i-Iron↑, 1,   lipid-P↑, 1,   MDA↑, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↑, 4,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

MMP↓, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

AMPK↑, 1,   CYP3A4↓, 1,   Glycolysis↓, 1,  

Cell Death

Apoptosis↑, 3,   BAX↑, 1,   Casp3↑, 2,   Casp8↑, 2,   Casp9↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 3,   Ferroptosis↑, 1,   MAPK↑, 1,  

Autophagy & Lysosomes

LC3B↑, 1,   p62↑, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair

P53↑, 1,   cl‑PARP↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

TumCCA↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

HDAC↓, 1,  

Migration

Ki-67↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport

SLC12A5↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

ChemoSen↑, 2,   Dose↝, 1,   eff↓, 2,   eff↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

Ki-67↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

AntiCan↑, 1,   TumVol↓, 1,   TumW↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 40

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

NRF2↑, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

toxicity↓, 1,   toxicity∅, 1,   Weight∅, 1,  
Total Targets: 4

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSH, Glutathione
6 Sulforaphane (mainly Broccoli)
1 Docetaxel
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:156  Target#:137  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

Home Page