Sulforaphene and sulforaphane in commonly consumed cruciferous plants contributed to antiproliferation in HCT116 colon cancer cells

Abstract

Objective: To analyze two isothiocyanates (sulforaphene and sulforaphane) and their antiproliferative effect of 11 indigenous cruciferous vegetables. Methods: Phytoconstituents identification was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer techniques. The antiproliferation was evaluated in colon cancer cell line HCT116 by MTT assay. Results: Isothiocyanate identification by high performance liquid chromatography showed that broccoli, cabbage, “Khi-Hood” (Raphanus sativus L. var. caudatus Alef) and Chinese radish contained isothiocyanates sulforaphane. Sulforaphene and sulforaphane in broccoli, cabbage and “Khi-Hood” were characterized by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis. Antiproliferation screening by MTT assay found that the potent plants which possessed IC50 below 50 μg/mL were cabbage and “Khi-Hood”, while the others had low antiproliferation with IC50 higher than 50 μg/mL. Difference in antiproliferation was probably due to difference existed phytochemical constituents in each plant. “Khi-Hood” possessed the highest antiproliferation against HCT116 with the lowest IC50 at (9.42 ± 0.46) μg/mL. The IC50 of chemotherapeutic drug (mitomycin C) was (19.12 ± 1.00) μg/mL, while both melphalan and 5-fluorouracil possessed the IC50 value higher than 50 μg/mL. Conclusions: Commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables exerted varied antiproliferation and isothiocyanate contents. High isothiocyanate content in “Khi-Hood” was contributed to high antiproliferation. Among 11 plants studied, “Khi-Hood” could be an alternative chemopreventive diet.

Keywords

• Cruciferous
• Cancer
• Isothiocyanates
• Sulforaphane
• Sulforaphene
• Chemoprevention