Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211-Giza, Egypt.
Mini Rev Med Chem. 2009 Nov 1;9(13):1470-8. doi: 10.2174/138955709790361511.
The Cruciferae (also known as the Brassicaceae) are the family of plants that include the various familiar members of the species Brassica oleracea (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts) as well as many other plants that are widely consumed in various parts of the world. Forage and root brassicas are widely used as winter feeds for cattle and sheep. A striking and characteristic chemical property of cruciferous plants is their high content of glucosinolates (more than 120 types), which often approaches 1% or more of their dry weight. The interest devoted to this group of natural products is caused by the appreciable biological effects of both the intact glucosinolates (GSLs) and especially the complex group of glucosinolate transformation products produced in non-enzymatic and enzymatic reactions. Depending on the concentration and structural types of these compounds, their biological effects can be toxic, anti-nutritional or beneficial to health. Most serious economic problems in livestock seem to result from rapeseed meal; arising from GSLs or their breakdown products. In contrast, GSLs and their isothiocyanate (ITC) hydrolysis products are reportedly well-known protectors against carcinogenesis. GSLs play further protective and evolutionarily important roles in plants. These include allelopathy (suppression of growth of neighboring plants), specific positive and negative feeding cues for some insects and broad antibiotic properties including nematocidal, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and insecticidal activities. The controversy in the referred actions contributed to crucifers' phytochemicals has been exclusively discussed.
十字花科（也称为芸薹科）是一类植物，包括各种常见的芸薹属物种（如西兰花、白菜、菜花、羽衣甘蓝、抱子甘蓝）以及许多在世界不同地区广泛食用的其他植物。饲料和根用十字花科植物被广泛用作牛羊的冬季饲料。十字花科植物的一个显著而独特的化学特性是其含有高浓度的硫代葡萄糖苷（超过 120 种），其含量通常接近其干重的 1%或更多。人们对这组天然产物感兴趣，是因为完整的硫代葡萄糖苷（GSLs）以及非酶和酶促反应产生的复杂的 GSL 转化产物都具有可观的生物学效应。这些化合物的生物效应取决于它们的浓度和结构类型，其可以是有毒的、抗营养的或有益于健康的。在畜牧业中，大多数严重的经济问题似乎都源于菜籽粕；这些问题源于 GSL 或其分解产物。相比之下，GSL 及其异硫氰酸酯（ITC）水解产物据报道是很好的抗癌保护剂。GSL 在植物中还具有进一步的保护和进化上的重要作用。这些作用包括化感作用（抑制邻近植物的生长）、某些昆虫的特定正、负取食信号以及广泛的抗生素特性，包括杀线虫、抗菌、抗真菌、抗原生动物和杀虫活性。已专门讨论了十字花科植物植物化学物质的这些作用所引发的争议。
