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Sulforaphane

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Cancer

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Synonyms

4-Methylsulfinylbutyl isothiocyanate; (-)-1-Isothiocyanato-4(R)-(methylsulfinyl) butane

Definition

Sulforaphane belongs to the isothiocyanate family. It is a hydrolysis product of glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate found in broccoli. Its molecular formula is C6H11NOS2, and its molecular weight is 177.29 Da. Glucoraphanin is also known as 4-methylsufinylbutyl glucosinolate. Sulforaphane is the aglycone breakdown product of glucoraphanin, also known as sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS). Glucosinolates are beta-thioglucoside-N-hydroxysulfates and are primarily found in cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cauliflower sprouts, bok choy, kale, collards, arugula, kohlrabi, mustard, turnip, red radish, and watercress). Young broccoli sprouts and young cauliflower sprouts are especially rich in glucoraphanin. The enzyme myrosinase present in cruciferous vegetables converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane upon damage to the plant (such...

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References

  • Bailey GS, Chung F-L, Nishikawa A et al (2004) Animal studies: metabolism cancer-preventive effects, intermediary biomarkers. In: WHO (ed) IARC Handbook on cancer prevention. Cruciferous vegetables, isothiocyanates and indoles, vol 9. IARC, Lyon

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  • Fahey JW, Zhang Y, Talalay P (1997) Broccoli sprouts: an exceptionally rich source of inducers of enzymes that protect against chemical carcinogens. Proc Natl Acad Sci 94:10367–10372

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  • Zhang Y, Talalay P, Cho CG et al (1992) A major inducer of anticarcinogenic protective enzymes from broccoli: isolation and elucidation of structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci 89:2399–2403

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Fung-Lung Chung

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  1. Fung-Lung Chung
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Correspondence to Fung-Lung Chung .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Chung, FL. (2014). Sulforaphane. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_5567-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_5567-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

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