Beneficial Health Effects of Glucosinolates-Derived Isothiocyanates on Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are illnesses that affect the nervous system and heart, all of which are vital to the human body. To maintain health of the human body, vegetable diets serve as a preventive approach and particularly Brassica vegetables have been associated with lower risks of chronic diseases, especially NDDs and CVDs. Interestingly, glucosinolates (GLs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs) are phytochemicals that are mostly found in the Cruciferae family and they have been largely documented as antioxidants contributing to both cardio- and neuroprotective effects. The hydrolytic breakdown of GLs into ITCs such as sulforaphane (SFN), phenylethyl ITC (PEITC), moringin (MG), erucin (ER), and allyl ITC (AITC) has been recognized to exert significant effects with regards to cardio- and neuroprotection. From past in vivo and/or in vitro studies, those phytochemicals have displayed the ability to mitigate the adverse effects of reactive oxidation species (ROS), inflammation, and apoptosis, which are the primary causes of CVDs and NDDs. This review focuses on the protective effects of those GL-derived ITCs, featuring their beneficial effects and the mechanisms behind those effects in CVDs and NDDs.

Keywords: Cruciferae vegetables; cardiovascular diseases; glucosinolates; isothiocyanates; neurodegenerative diseases; phytochemicals.

Figure 1

Three major classes of amino acid precursors of GLs side chains (R). Structures were retrieved from PubChem [32,33,34].

Figure 2

Selected products after hydrolysis by myrosinase enzyme. The compounds produced depend on side chain (R) and other factors during the conversion process. Adapted from Fuentes et al. [35].

Figure 3

Isothiocyanates issued from their glucosinolate precursors. Structures were retrieved from PubChem [33,34,52,53,54,55,56,57].

Figure 4

Pathway activation of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2) by isothiocyanates (ITCs). Adapted from Angeloni et al. [136].

Figure 5

Model of ITCs’-mediated anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of the JNK/AP-1/NF-κB pathway and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, with concomitant upregulation of IL-10 and IL-4. Adapted from Subedi et al. [237].