Clinical and molecular evidence of the consumption of broccoli, glucoraphanin and sulforaphane in humans / Evidencias clínicas y moleculares del consumo de brócoli, glucorafanina y sulforafano en humanos

Introduction: Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate derived from glucoraphanin (GRA), which is found in great amounts especially in broccoli. Its consumption has been reported to be associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction and cancer development. Additionally, its effects have been studied in neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, most of the times using animal models and cell cultures. Objectives: Given the promising results of SFN, this review aimed to investigate evidence documented in human intervention studies with broccoli, GRA and SFN. Methods: A search was performed on PubMed and Virtual Health Library databases by two independent researchers using the descriptors 'broccoli' or 'glucoraphanin' or 'sulforaphane', which should appear on the study’s title or abstract. This review included randomized linical trials performed in humans that were published in English and Portuguese from 2003 to 2013 and that considered clinical and molecular parameters of cell damage as outcomes of interest. Results: Seventeen studies were selected, and the predominant type of intervention was broccoli sprouts. More consistent results were obtained for the clinical parameters blood glucose and lipid profile and for molecular parameters of oxidative stress, indicating that there was an improvement in these parameters after intervention. Less solid evidence was found with regard to decreased inflammation, Helicobacter pylori colonization, and protection against cancer. Conclusion: Although being relevant, the evidence for the use of broccoli, GRA and SFN in humans are limited; Introduction: Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate derived from glucoraphanin (GRA), which is found in great amounts especially in broccoli. Its consumption has been reported to be associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction and cancer development. Additionally, its effects have been studied in neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, most of the times using animal models and cell cultures. Objectives: Given the promising results of SFN, this reviewaimed to investigate evidence documented in human intervention studies with broccoli, GRA and SFN. Methods: A search was performed on PubMed and Virtual Health Library databases by two independent researchers using the descriptors 'broccoli' or 'glucoraphanin' or 'sulforaphane', which should appear on the study’s title or abstract. This review included randomized clinical trials performed in humans that were published in English and Portuguese from 2003 to 2013 and that considered clinical and molecular parameters of cell damage as outcomes of interest. Results: Seventeen studies were selected, and the predominanttype of intervention was broccoli sprouts. More consistent results were obtained for the clinical parameters blood glucose and lipid profile and for molecular parameters of oxidative stress, indicating that there wasan improvement in these parameters after intervention. Less solid evidence was found with regard to decreased inflammation, Helicobacter pylori colonization, and protection against cancer. Conclusion: Although being relevant, the evidence for the use of broccoli, GRA and SFN in humans are limited thus, further intervention studies are needed to evaluate outcomes more consistently and reach better grounded conclusions (AU)

Introducción: El sulforafano (SFN) es un isotiocianato derivado de la glucorafanina (GRA), encontrada en gran cantidad especialmente en el brócolis. Su consumo está asociado a un menor riesgo de infarto del miocardio y de cáncer. Además, sus efectos están siendo estudiados en enfermedades neurodegenerativas, diabetes y aterosclerosis, casi siempre utilizando modelos animales y cultivos celulares. Objetivos: Debido a los resultados prometedores del compuesto SFN, esta revisión buscó investigar evidencias ya documentadas en intervenciones con brócoli, GRA y SFN en humanos. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos PubMed y Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, por dos investigadores independientes, utilizando los descriptores 'broccoli' o 'glucoraphanin' o 'sulforaphane', que debían constar en el título o resumen del trabajo. Se incluyeron ensayos clínicos randomizados realizados en humanos, publicados en inglés y portugués entre 2003 y 2013, y que consideraron como desenlaces de interés parámetros clínicos y moleculares de daño celular. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 17 estudios y el tipo de intervención predominante fueron brotes de brócoli. Los resultados más consistentes fueron obtenidos con los parámetros clínicos glicemia y perfil lipídico y los parámetros moleculares de estrés oxidativo, que presentaron mejora después de la intervención. Se encontraron evidencias menos sólidas respeto a la disminución de la inflamación, de la colonización por Helicobacter pylori y protección contra cáncer. Conclusión: Aunque relevantes, las evidencias del uso Correspondence: Carolina Guerini de Souza. de brócoli, GRA y SFN en humanos son limitadas, siendo necesarios más estudios de intervención para avaluar los desenlaces de forma más consistente y producir conclusiones mejor fundamentadas (AU)

Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón): composición química y propiedades farmacológicas / Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón): chemical constituents and pharmacological effects

La maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) es una planta herbácea anual originaria de los Andes Centrales del Perú. Fue un producto valioso para los Incas no sólo por su alto valor nutricional sino por su uso medicinal, especialmente como revitalizante, afrodisiaco y potenciador de la fertilidad. Entre los constituyentes químicos de la maca que se han relacionado con su actividad, destacan: ácidos grasos (macaeno) y sus correspondientes amidas (macamidas), glucosinolatos, alcaloides (lepidilinas A y B, macaridina), esteroles, ácido (1R, 3S)-1-metil-tetrahidro--carbolin-3-carboxílico y polifenoles. Entre las actividades confirmadas en animales o en humanos, cabe mencionar el aumento de la fertilidad y la mejora de la actividad sexual. Además, actualmente se le han atribuido otras actividades como citostática y antitumoral, antioxidante e antihipoglucemiante. En este artículo se hace una recopilación de los principales estudios que se han desarrollado sobre la raíz de maca para comprobar sus acciones farmacológicas y conocer los compuestos responsables de las mismas (AU)

Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) is an annual herbnative to the Peru vian Central Andes.It was a staple product for Incas due to its high nutritionalvalue and medicinal uses, mainly as an aphrodisiacand to enhance sexual drive and fertility, and to increase vitality. Among the chemical constituens of maca root that have been related with the biological activity, there are fatty acids (macaene) and their corresponding amides (macamides), glucosinolates,alkaloids(lepidilines A and B, macaridine), sterols, (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-*-carboline-3-carboxylic acid and polyphenols.The enhancement of fertility and the improvement of the sexual performace have been confirmed as activities of maca in animal models or in humans. Additionaly, today, antioxidant, citostatic, antitumoral and antihipoglicemiant properties havealso been suggested for macaroot. Thispaper reviews the main studies on maca, aimed to prove their pharmacological effects and the compoundsresponsible of them (AU)