Tel: 1-909-396-6530 USA
Fax: 1-909-474-8856 USA
Online Skype / Yahoo IM
user name:
Nutrimartus
BROCCOLI
COMMON NAME : Broccoli
LATIN NAME : Brassica oleracea Botrytis cymosa (Broccoli) Brassica oleracea var. acephala (Kale), Raphanus sativus (Radish)
DESCRIPTION : Broccoli (Brassica oleracea Botrytis cymosa) is a dark green vegetable in the cruciferous family. It is rich in fiber, provitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin K.Fresh broccoli is available throughout the year, with the peak season from January through March. This is a cruciferous vegetable extract, standardized for sulforaphane.
PHYSIOLOGY : Cruciferous vegetables apparently can reduce the risk of cancer by inducing extra protection of the enzymes involved in detoxifying carcinogens and flushing them out of the body. The phase II enzymes, including quinone reductase and glutathione S-tranferase, are particularly active. Sulforaphane is a major and very potent phase II enzyme inducer. Sulforaphane, along with other cancer-protective isothiocyanates, does not induce damaging phase I enzymes. Besides protecting against the risk of cancer occuring, sulforaphane appears to reduce the severity of cancers that do occur. Estrogen is formed from estradiol, and can take either a safe, relatively inert form, 2-hydroxylated, or a dangerously reactive form that has been associated with breast cancers and increased risk of breast cancer, 16-hydroxylated estrogen. Indoles, particularly indole-3-carbinol, induce protection of the safe, rather than the dangerously reactive, form of estrogen. 2-hydroxylated estrogen is also induced by vigorous exercise (at least 2, and preferably 4 hours per week), and a major study released in September 1994 showed a strong correlation with reduced cancer risk. Broccoli may have other antioxidant activities due to its carotenoid, phenolic and anthocyanin constituents.
ACTIVE PROPERTIES: Key nutritional constituents are fiber, provitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin K. Isothiocyanates are a class of compounds recently identified at Johns Hopkins University as being one key to the anticancer properties of cruciferous vegetables. The most active isothiocyanate is sulfor-aphane. Fresh, commercial broccoli has widely varying amounts of isothiocyanates and sulforaphane, depending on the plant strain, growing methods and time of harvesting. Also, the absorption and utilization of these compounds can be hampered by poor preparation or digestion. Therefore, extracts of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that concentrate isothiocyanates and sulforaphane by factors of from 133:1 to 400:1 have been developed, to provide enhanced protection. Indoles are another key to anticancer activity. Dr. H. Leon Bradlow of the Strang-Cornell Cancer Research Laboratory in New York has isolated a crucial one, indole-3-carbinol, from broccoli.
HISTORICAL USES: • Broccoli helps prevent stomach and colon cancer, as do other members of the cruciferous family. • It is also a good dietary source of fiber, provitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin K.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE : 250 mg of a 400:1 extract at 0.04% mg / g sulforaphane is equivalent to one serving (100 grams) of fresh commercial broccoli
TOXICITY, CAUTIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS: No known toxicity.
