Broccoli Health Benefits

 Broccoli, a highly valued Brassica vegetable, is renowned for its rich content of bioactive substances, including glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and essential minerals. 

Glucosinolates (GSLs), secondary plant metabolites, are particularly abundant in broccoli. 

The global consumption of broccoli has increased due to its high nutritional value.

 This review examines the essential bioactive compounds in broccoli and their biological properties. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that broccoli exhibits various biological activities, including antioxidant,

 anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects. 

This review analyzes several aspects of the chemical and biological activity of GSLs and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane, as well as phenolic compounds. Particular emphasis is placed on sulforaphane’s chemical structure, the reactivity of its isothiocyanate fraction (-NCS), and given the different behavior of SFN enantiomers, a wide and detailed review of the chemical synthesis methods described, by microbial oxidation, or using a chiral ruthenium catalyst and more widely using chiral auxiliaries for synthesizing sulforaphane enantiomers. In addition, the methods of chiral resolution of racemates by HPLC are reviewed, explaining the different chiral fillers used for this resolution and a third section on resolution using the formation of diastereomeric complexes and subsequent separation on achiral columns. Additionally, this review highlights the presence of antimicrobial peptides in broccoli, which have shown potential applications in food preservation and as natural alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from broccoli target bacterial membranes, enzymes, oxidative stress pathways and inflammatory mediators, contributing to their effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens and with potential therapeutic applications.

Broccolli advantages

It contains abundant vitamins C, K and A, along with minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron. These nutrients act as antioxidants, helping to protect the body from oxidative stress and reducing inflammation [5,6].

It is rich in dietary fiber, which supports digestion, increases feelings of fullness and contributes to a healthy digestive system [6].

It provides various antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, β-carotene and several flavonoids, which help shield cells from free radical damage [7].

It possesses potential anti-cancer properties due to its glucosinolate content, which the body can transform into cancer-fighting compounds [8,9,10].

It supports heart health by potentially lowering cholesterol levels and helping maintain healthy blood pressure [9,11].

It promotes eye health through its high vitamin 

A content and the presence of antioxidants [12].

It boosts the immune system while supporting collagen production, wound healing and iron absorption [13].

It contributes to bone health as it is a significant source of calcium and contains vitamin K [14].

It aids in weight management due to its low-calorie content and high fiber levels [15].

It supports digestive health, with its high fiber content promoting regular bowel movements [16].

Conclusions

Broccoli, a widely consumed vegetable from the Brassica genus, has been extensively studied for its health benefits, with new advantages continually being discovered. The nutritional and health-promoting properties of broccoli are largely attributed to its rich content of glucosinolates (GSLs), secondary metabolites abundant in nitrogen and sulfur. GSLs have demonstrated protective properties against various diseases, particularly cancer. These compounds contribute to improving human health through several mechanisms, such as anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant activity (broccoli is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, which help combat oxidative stress), cardiovascular health and metabolic regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. SFN, a key isothiocyanate derived from broccoli, has garnered significant attention for its health-promoting properties: anticancer activity against various types of cancer, including prostate, pancreatic, leukemia, and colon cancer; enhancing the body’s antioxidant defenses by activating the Nrf2 pathway and NF-κB inhibition. Despite the promising health benefits of SFN, several challenges and areas for future research remain: chemical instability, the clinical use of SFN has been hampered by its chemical instability, necessitating the development of more stable formulations. SFN has optical isomers due to the chirality of sulfur, clinical and toxicological studies are necessary to fully evaluate the effects of SFN enantiomers on different organs of the human body. Appropriate enantio-selective synthesis methods and environmentally friendly solvent HPLC enantio-separation methods are needed.

The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from broccoli exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, targeting bacterial membranes, enzymes, oxidative stress pathways, and inflammatory mediators. These multifaceted approaches contribute to their effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens and their potential therapeutic applications.

In conclusion, while broccoli and its bioactive compounds, particularly GSLs and SFN, show great promise in promoting human health and preventing chronic diseases, further research is needed to overcome the challenges associated with their stability, synthesis, and clinical application. Additionally, more comprehensive human trials are required to establish optimal consumption patterns and to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which these compounds exert their beneficial effects

Ref

Molecules. 2025 May 22;30(11):2262. doi: 10.3390/molecules30112262

The Multifaceted Health Benefits of Broccoli—A Review of Glucosinolates, Phenolics and Antimicrobial Peptides

Celia María Curieses Andrés 1, José Manuel Pérez de la Lastra 2,*, Elena Bustamante Munguira 1, Celia Andrés Juan 3,*, Eduardo Pérez-Lebeña 4