Sulforaphane in Human Health

This concise research overview examines sulforaphane, a bioactive isothiocyanate that has become a central focus in nutritional biochemistry, molecular pharmacology, and translational health science. Bringing together evidence from plant biology, enzymology, human metabolism, and clinical research, it traces the compound's pathway from its glucosinolate precursor in Brassicaceae vegetables to its biologically active forms in humans. The book integrates current knowledge on chemical properties, biosynthesis, myrosinasemediated hydrolysis, and the factors influencing bioavailability, stability, and metabolic variability.

Through a critical synthesis of experimental, molecular, and clinical findings, the volume explains how sulforaphane modulates pathways relevant to detoxification, oxidative stress, inflammation, epigenetic regulation, and pharmacokinetics. Coverage of preclinical and human studies outlines therapeutic potential in oncology, neurodegeneration, cardiometabolic disorders, and immune modulation, while also addressing limitations in clinical translation, formulation challenges, and interindividual differences in response.

By combining foundational biochemical insights with emerging biomedical applications, the book provides an integrated resource for researchers and professionals in nutrition science, pharmacology, toxicology, functional foods, and translational medicine seeking an authoritative and balanced synthesis of current evidence.

Integrates plant biochemistry and human metabolism to clarify how sulforaphane exerts its biological effects Synthesizes molecular, pharmacokinetic, and clinical evidence to explain sulforaphane's therapeutic potential Bridges molecular pathways with translational insights to support research in nutrition, pharmacology, and medicine

Autorentext

PharmD, MSc Eng. Kalina Sikorska-Zimny is a food scientist with over 20 years of experience in food chemistry, functional foods, and bioactive plant compounds. Since 2005, her research has focused on health-promoting components of vegetables, particularly Brassicaceae species. She has conducted analytical and experimental studies on glucosinolates and their bioactive derivatives, including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, with special emphasis on their biosynthesis, bioavailability, and health effects. She is the author or co-author of more than 27 scientific publications, including highly cited reviews in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2020) and Nutrients (2021) addressing glucosinolate metabolism and interaction with the human gut microbiota. Her work has been presented at numerous international events, including conferences, invited lectures and academic talks delivered abroad. She serves as a peer reviewer for several leading international journals in the fields of food science, nutrition, and pharmacology. Dr. Sikorska-Zimny has over 15 years of academic teaching experience and is one of two authors of a biochemistry course manual for medical and health-science students.

Inhalt

Sulforaphane: discovery, chemistry, biosynthesis and plant biology.- Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and molecular mechanisms of sulforaphane.- Therapeutic applications of sulforaphane in human disease.- Clinical applications, formulation strategies and future directions of sulforaphane.