The broccoli-derived antioxidant sulforaphane changes the growth of gastrointestinal microbiota, allowing for the production of anti-inflammatory metabolites

Sarah A. Marshall; Remy B. Young; Jessica M. Lewis; Emily L. Rutten; Jodee Gould; Christopher K. Barlow; Cristina Giogha; Vanessa R. Marcelino; Neville Fields; Ralf B. Schittenhelm; Elizabeth L. Hartland; Nichollas E. Scott; Samuel C. Forster; Emily L. Gulliver

Journal of Functional Foods (Aug 2023)

The broccoli-derived antioxidant sulforaphane changes the growth of gastrointestinal microbiota, allowing for the production of anti-inflammatory metabolites

Sarah A. Marshall,
Remy B. Young,
Jessica M. Lewis,
Emily L. Rutten,
Jodee Gould,
Christopher K. Barlow,
Cristina Giogha,
Vanessa R. Marcelino,
Neville Fields,
Ralf B. Schittenhelm,
Elizabeth L. Hartland,
Nichollas E. Scott,
Samuel C. Forster,
Emily L. Gulliver

Affiliations

Sarah A. Marshall: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Remy B. Young: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Jessica M. Lewis: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Emily L. Rutten: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Jodee Gould: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Christopher K. Barlow: Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Facility, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Cristina Giogha: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Vanessa R. Marcelino: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.; Melbourne Integrative Genomics, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Neville Fields: The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Ralf B. Schittenhelm: Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Facility, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Elizabeth L. Hartland: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Nichollas E. Scott: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Samuel C. Forster: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
Emily L. Gulliver: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.; Corresponding author at: 27-31 Wright St, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 107
p. 105645

Abstract

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Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring, potent antioxidant, found in Brassicaceae plants such as broccoli, and is being considered for use in the treatment of fibrosis, cancer and preeclampsia. As sulforaphane is orally administered and has been shown to demonstrate antimicrobial properties in aerobic conditions, there is also the potential for impact on the gut microbiome under anaerobic conditions. Here, we have determined the effect of sulforaphane on the growth of 43 common human gastrointestinal microbiota, representing common commensals and pathogens. The enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain EPEC E2348/69 showed the most significant increases in growth in the presence of sulforaphane. Proteomic analysis of this isolate showed that sulforaphane increased anaerobic respiration, whilst metabolomics identified differentially produced metabolites that can decrease inflammation in human cells. Therefore, sulforaphane can increase growth of specific gastrointestinal microbiota, correlating with increased production of anti-inflammatory metabolites. Thus, providing a novel mechanism for modulating inflammatory states in patients.

Published in Journal of Functional Foods

ISSN: 1756-4646 (Print); 2214-9414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-functional-foods

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