Brassica-derived phytochemicals as modulators of intestinal signaling pathways associated with chemoprevention and inflammation

A high consumption of vegetables belonging to the Brassicaceae family has been related to a lower incidence of chronic diseases including different kinds of cancer. These beneficial effects of e.g. broccoli, cabbage or rocket intake have been mainly dedicated to the sulfur-containing glucosinolates and in particular to their bioactive breakdown products including isothiocyanates. Some studies suggest anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties for isothiocyanates which may be communicated through an activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor Nrf2 that controls the expression of antioxidant and phase II enzymes. In the present doctoral thesis the effects of different glucosinolates and isothiocyanates on Nrf2 activation and its downstream target genes have been investigated in both, cultured human colon carcinoma cells and laboratory mice. In addition, potential anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates have been studied in a murine model of experimental colitis.