Promising Bioactive Natural Compounds in Pharmacy
Sulforaphane, AYŞE UZ,FUNDA NURAY YALÇIN,DİDEM ŞÖHRETOĞLU, Editör, Turkiye Klinikleri, Ankara, ss.394-406, 2026
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Mesleki Kitap
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Yayınevi: Turkiye Klinikleri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Ankara
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.394-406
- Editörler: AYŞE UZ,FUNDA NURAY YALÇIN,DİDEM ŞÖHRETOĞLU, Editör
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate that occurs naturally in plants of the Brassicaceae family and is formed from the precursor compound glucoraphanin. Recently, it has been the focus of many preclinical and clinical studies, particularly due to its “anticancer” and “neuroprotective” effects. Numerous studies have shown that sulforaphane decreases cell proliferation across various cancer types, induces apoptosis and autophagy, suppresses metastasis and angiogenesis, and can enhance the efficacy of certain chemotherapeutic drugs. Sulforaphane enhances neuronal survival and improves functional outcomes by alleviating oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cellular damage in neuronal cell cultures and animal models. Moreover, sulforaphane exhibits an extensive pharmacological profile, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity properties. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the biological effects of sulforaphane are primarily associated with the modulation of key signaling pathways, including nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2, nuclear factor kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol- 3-kinase/protein kinase B. Clinical studies, consistent with preclinical findings, have indicated that sulforaphane may exert beneficial effects in neuropsychiatric disorders, respiratory diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Furthermore, clinical data suggest that sulforaphane is generally well tolerated at administered dose ranges, with a relatively limited incidence of serious adverse effects. On the other hand, animal studies have reported that high-dose exposure may lead to neurological effects such as deep sedation, ataxia, tremor, and impaired motor coordination. Sulforaphane has also been shown to modulate drug metabolism through Phase I enzymes, particularly cytochrome P450 3A4/5 and CYP2D6, as well as Phase II enzymes, including glutathione S-transferase and P-glycoprotein (multidrug resistance protein 1). Therefore, potential toxic effects associated with high-dose administration and possible drug–drug interactions should be carefully considered. In conclusion, sulforaphane is a naturally occurring bioactive compound that targets multiple molecular pathways, exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities, and holds promising therapeutic potential across various disease groups. Future comprehensive clinical studies are warranted to further elucidate its mechanisms of action, determine optimal dosing regimens and duration of administration, clarify its pharmacokinetic properties, and strengthen long-term safety data, thereby better defining its clinical applicability.