Diverse Excretion Pathways of Benzyl Glucosinolate in Humans after Consumption of Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.)-A Pilot Study.

SCOPE: Different metabolic and excretion pathways of the benzyl glucosinolate breakdown products benzyl isothiocyanate and benzyl cyanide are investigated to obtain information about their multiple fate after ingestion. Detailed focus is on the so far underestimated transformation/excretion pathways-protein conjugation and exhalation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Metabolites, protein conjugates, and non-conjugated isothiocyanates are determined in plasma, urine, and breath of seven volunteers after consuming freeze-dried nasturtium or bread enriched with nasturtium. Samples are collected up to 48 h at selected time points. The metabolites of the mercapturic acid pathway are detectable in plasma up to 24 h after consumption. Additionally, mercapturic acid is the main metabolite in urine, but non-conjugated benzyl isothiocyanate is detectable as well. Protein conjugates show high amounts in plasma even 48 h after consumption. In breath, benzyl isothiocyanate and benzyl cyanide are detectable up to 48 h after consumption. CONCLUSION: Isothiocyanates are not only metabolized via the mercapturic acid pathway, but also form protein conjugates in blood and are exhaled. To balance intake and excretion, it is necessary to investigate all potential metabolites and excretion routes. This has important implications for the understanding of physiological and pharmacological effects of isothiocyanate-containing products.

Bioavailability and metabolism of benzyl glucosinolate in humans consuming Indian cress (Tropaeolum majus L.).

SCOPE: Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), which occurs in Brassicales, has demonstrated chemopreventive potency and cancer treatment properties in cell and animal studies. However, fate of BITC in human body is not comprehensively studied. Therefore, the present human intervention study investigates the metabolism of the glucosinolate (GSL) glucotropaeolin and its corresponding BITC metabolites. Analyzing BITC metabolites in plasma and urine should reveal insights about resorption, metabolism, and excretion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen healthy men were randomly recruited for a cross-over study and consumed 10 g freeze-dried Indian cress as a liquid preparation containing 1000 µmol glucotropaeolin. Blood and urine samples were taken at several time points and investigated by LC-ESI-MS/MS after sample preparation using SPE. Plasma contained high levels of BITC-glutathione (BITC-GSH), BITC-cysteinylglycine (BITC-CysGly), and BITC-N-acetyl-L-cysteine (BITC-NAC) 1-5 h after ingestion, with BITC-CysGly appearing as the main metabolite. Compared to human plasma, the main urinary metabolites were BITC-NAC and BITC-Cys, determined 4-6 h after ingestion. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that consumption of Indian cress increases the concentration of BITC metabolites in human plasma and urine. The outcome of this human intervention study supports clinical research dealing with GSL-containing innovative food products or pharmaceutical preparations.

Escherichia coli ß-galactosidase inhibitors through modifications at the aglyconic moiety: experimental evidence of conformational distortion in the molecular recognition process.

Herein, we describe the use of thioglycosides as glycosidase inhibitors by employing novel modifications at the reducing end of these glycomimetics. The inhibitors display a basic galactopyranosyl unit (1→4)-bonded to a 3-deoxy-4-thiopentopyranose moiety. The molecular basis of the observed inhibition has been studied by using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling techniques. It is demonstrated that these molecules are not recognized by Escherichia coli ß-galactosidase in their ground-state conformation, with a conformational selection process taking place. In fact, the observed conformational distortion depends on the chemical nature of the compounds and results from the rotation around the glycosidic linkage (variation of Φ or Ψ) or from the deformation of the six-membered ring of the pentopyranose. The bound conformations of the ligand are adapted in the enzymatic pocket with a variety of hydrogen-bond, van der Waals, and stacking interactions.

Desulfation followed by sulfation: metabolism of benzylglucosinolate in Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).

The sawfly species Athalia rosae (L.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) is phytophagous on plants of the family Brassicaceae and thus needs to cope with the plant defence, the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. The larvae sequester glucosinolates in their haemolymph. We investigated how these compounds are metabolized by this specialist. When larvae were fed with ([(14) C]-labelled) benzylglucosinolate, one major degradation metabolite, with the same sum formula as benzylglucosinolate, was defecated. This metabolite was also found in the haemolymph along with desulfobenzylglucosinolate, which continuously increased in concentration. NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with LC-TOF-MS measurements revealed the major degradation metabolite to be desulfobenzylglucosinolate-3-sulfate, probably converted from desulfobenzylglucosinolate after sulfation at the sugar moiety. The enzymes responsible must be located in the haemolymph. Additionally, a putative sulfotransferase forms benzylglucosinolate sulfate in the gut from intact, non-sequestered glucosinolate. The corresponding desulfoglucosinolate sulfates were also detected in faeces after feeding experiments with phenylethylglucosinolate and prop-2-enylglucosinolate, which indicates a similar degradation mechanism for various glucosinolates in the larvae. This is the first report on glucosinolate metabolism of a glucosinolate-sequestering insect species.

Intestinal transport of beta-thioglycosides by Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Intestinal metabolism and transport of p-nitrophenyl beta-D-thioglucoside (p-NPbetaSglc) and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-thiogalactoside (p-NPbetaSgal) by the Na+/glucose cotransporter were studied in excised small intestine of the rat. p-NPbetaSglc and p-NPbetaSgal were stable enough on the mucosal side to be transported to the serosal side. Transport of p-NPbetaSglc was inhibited in the presence of phloridzin (a Na+/glucose cotransporter inhibitor), glucose, or 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG). p-NPbetaSglc transport was dependent on Na+ concentration in a sigmoidal manner. The activation energy for transport was 19.4 kcal mol(-1). The distribution of transport activity of p-NPbetaSglc in each region of the small intestine correlated well with that of 3-OMG. These results indicate that p-NPbetaSglc is transported by the Na+/glucose cotransporter in small intestine. The order of turnover rate for glycoside transport by Na+/glucose cotransporter was 3-OMG > p-nitrophenyl beta-O-glucoside > p-NPbetaSglc > p-NPbetaSgal, indicating that the presence of a galactose moiety and a sulphur between the monosaccharide moiety and aglycone decreases the turnover rate of the Na+/glucose cotransporter in the transport of glycosides. In an inhibition study using stable p-NPbetaSglc as a Na+/glucose cotransporter-transportable marker glucoside, it was also shown that the Na+/glucose cotransporter recognized several types of glycosides. In conclusion, displacement of the oxygen at carbon C-1 of glucose by sulphur in thioglycosides decreases the turnover rate of the Na+/glucose cotransporter, but thioglycosides are stable in the small intestine and are transported by the Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Structural requirements for alkylglycoside-type renal targeting vector.

PURPOSE: We have previously shown Glc-S-C7-Me (octyl beta-D-thioglucoside) exhibits renal targeting potential in vivo in addition to its specific binding to the renal membrane fraction in vitro. Thus, "alkylglycoside" is considered to be a novel targeting vector for the kidney (1,2). The present study is designed to clarify the structural requirements for alkylglycoside as a renal targeting vector. METHODS: Inhibitory effects of various sugars and glycosides on 3H-Glc-S-C7-Me binding to the kidney membrane fraction were evaluated by a centrifugation method. RESULTS: As far as the sugar moiety is concerned, no other sugars except D-aldohexose and D-aldohexose derivatives (containing F, S, and N) showed greater inhibition than D-glucose. Therefore, octylthio derivatives of various D-aldohexose were prepared and their inhibitory effects were investigated. The following findings were obtained: Equatorial OH at 4 position is essential; OH at 2 position can have either orientation or be deleted. As far as the alkyl moiety is concerned, the length, branching and electrical environment in the region of the glycoside bond are important; aromatic structures can substitute for the alkyl portion; the preferred glycoside bonding atom is as follows: S > NH > O. CONCLUSIONS: The structural requirements for the renal targeting vector have been identified to be as follows: a hydrophobic group (alkyl chain or aromatic ring) should be introduced to a sugar (D-glucose, D-mannose, or 2-deoxy-D-glucose) via a beta-glycoside binding atom (S > NH > O).