Bessetti Riley N, Litwa Karen A
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.
East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.
Front Cell Neurosci. 2025 Jul 4;19:1601366. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1601366. eCollection 2025.
Sulforaphane, a phytochemical abundant in the sprouts of cruciferous vegetables, protects plants during a critical period of development. Through sulforaphane's ability to activate the mammalian Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NRF2) pathway, these beneficial properties extend beyond plants. Our current review explores emerging neuroprotective mechanisms of sulforaphane and their relation to neurological disorders. Primarily, we discuss the ability of sulforaphane to mitigate oxidative stress and prevent neuroinflammation. Given sulforaphane's ability to activate multiple cytoprotective mechanisms, sulforaphane is emerging as a promising therapeutic for multiple neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we highlight current clinical trials in neurological disorders and conclude by discussing therapeutic opportunities and challenges for sulforaphane. Together, preclinical models and clinical trials highlight emerging themes of sulforaphane-mediated neuroprotection, including hormetic responses that depend upon the cell/tissue, neurological condition, insult, and developmental stage. In particular, low sulforaphane doses consistently exhibit beneficial effects in preclinical neuronal cell cultures models and avoid cytotoxic effects of higher sulforaphane doses. These factors will be important considerations in informing therapeutic use of sulforaphane.
萝卜硫素是一种在十字花科蔬菜芽苗中含量丰富的植物化学物质，在植物发育的关键时期保护植物。通过萝卜硫素激活哺乳动物核因子E2相关因子2（NRF2）途径的能力，这些有益特性不仅限于植物。我们当前的综述探讨了萝卜硫素新出现的神经保护机制及其与神经系统疾病的关系。主要地，我们讨论了萝卜硫素减轻氧化应激和预防神经炎症的能力。鉴于萝卜硫素激活多种细胞保护机制的能力，它正成为治疗多种神经退行性疾病和神经发育障碍的一种有前景的疗法。在本综述中，我们重点介绍了当前针对神经系统疾病的临床试验，并通过讨论萝卜硫素的治疗机会和挑战来得出结论。临床前模型和临床试验共同突出了萝卜硫素介导的神经保护的新出现主题，包括取决于细胞/组织、神经状况、损伤和发育阶段的应激适应反应。特别是，低剂量的萝卜硫素在临床前神经元细胞培养模型中始终显示出有益效果，并避免了高剂量萝卜硫素的细胞毒性作用。这些因素将是指导萝卜硫素治疗应用的重要考虑因素。
