SulforaOpti

Discussion

There is a link between the regular intake of cruciferous vegetables and good health. This connection can be attributed to a naturally occurring phytochemical called glucoraphanin, which is found in plants from the Brassicaceae family. Glucoraphanin is also known as sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), a precursor for the biologically active yet highly reactive and unstable compound isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN). The positive effects of SFN on antioxidant activity,
detoxification, cellular metabolism, and cell-life regulation have been documented.*[1]

Manipulating foods containing glucoraphanin by physical processes, such as chopping or chewing, triggers the natural enzymatic activity of the plant enzyme myrosinase, which is responsible for the conversion of glucoraphanin to SFN. Gastrointestinal microorganisms also produce SFN from glucoraphanin, which is important as glucoraphanin from food is rarely affected by cooking; however, myrosinase is denatured irrespective of cooking.[1-3] Metabolism of SFN occurs via the mercapturic acid pathway, and metabolites yielded through this process predominately appear in the urine as SFN N-acetyl-L-cysteine (SFN-NAC), a standard measure of SFN bioavailability.*[2]

Mustard seeds are a naturally rich source of myrosinase, and mustard seed powder has been shown in vitro to be capable
of reinitiating SGS hydrolysis to SFN. In a crossover study designed to investigate the bioavailability of SFN, SFN-NAC was measured in the urine of healthy adults (N = 12) after consumption of cooked broccoli with and without mustard powder. The addition of mustard powder enhanced the formation of SFN metabolites, suggesting that the presence of plant
myrosinase is important for SFN bioavailability.*[2]

In a small study (N = 22), the bioavailability of SFN was evaluated through urinary measurement of SFN metabolites after direct administration of glucoraphanin from broccoli seed extract (BSE) or by coadministration of glucoraphanin and the
enzyme myrosinase. A range of doses and delivery matrices (liquid bolus or gel capsules) were used. All preparations that included myrosinase were 3- to 4-fold more bioavailable than the samples without myrosinase, which is consistent
with previously published data. Prehydrolyzed BSE in juice containing vitamin C provided similar bioavailability to the gel capsules.*[1]

Antioxidant and Detoxification Support
Sulforaphane is an effective, long-acting, indirect antioxidant and significant inducer of phase II detoxification enzymes.[2] Mechanistically, it stimulates the expression of critical enzymes (via the KEAP1/Nrf2/ARE pathways), which supports
antioxidant activity, redox cycling, and phase II detoxification. The activation of transcription factor Nrf2 results in increased
output of enzymes (primarily glutathione and superoxide dismutase) that can extend antioxidant activity longer than direct
antioxidants, such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene. The activation of Nrf2 also regulates the production of detoxification enzymes, including glutathione S-transferase, and downregulates inflammatory signaling factors, such as NF-κB.
Additionally, the antioxidant enzymes generated are thought to participate in the recycling and maintenance of vitamins A,
C, and E.[3,4] In turn, the role of vitamin C in the activation of myrosinase could be the basis of a regulation mechanism for myrosinase activity contributing to the redox potential in cells.*[4,5]

Support for Cellular Health and Cell-Life Cycles
Sulforaphane is believed to play a multidimensional cytoprotective role, maintain cellular health, support healthy cell-life cycles, and promote a healthy inflammatory response.[6] Coupled with an inhibitory effect on certain phase I enzymes, the
induction of phase II enzymes and their effect on Nrf2 pathways are considered paramount to SFN’s protective effect on cells.*[7-9]

The mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, and role of SFN in health maintenance have been widely examined in animal, in vitro, and in vivo clinical trials.[9] Owing to the limited conversion of glucoraphanin
to SFN in the absence of exogenous myrosinase, studies have trended toward higher dosing of glucoraphanin or glucoraphanin combined with myrosinase. When administered
in the glucoraphanin form alone, dosing is complicated by the variance in bioavailability. However, the addition of myrosinase has been demonstrated to enhance the absorption
of glucoraphanin by up to 40%.[1,9] The optimal ratio of glucoraphanin to myrosinase to maximize the conversion of glucoraphanin to SFN is an area of ongoing research.
Estimates are often based on the naturally occurring ratio in broccoli seeds and sprouts (glucoraphanin) to mustard seed powder (myrosinase), which is approximately 4:1.*[1]
SulforaOpti provides a 4:1 ratio of glucoraphanin to
myrosinase. As a cofactor for the myrosinase enzyme,[5] vitamin C is included for maximum bioavailability.*