Asif Ali · Frontiers in oncology 2023 · narrative review · n=?

Anticancer properties of sulforaphane: current insights at the molecular level.

Cited 73 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review summarizing molecular mechanisms without systematic review or meta-analytic methodology

PubMed 37397365 · doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1168321 · record verified 2026-08-26

What was done

This narrative review searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer potential of sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate derived from the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin in Brassica plants.

What was found

The authors report that broccoli sprouts are 20 to 50 times richer in sulforaphane than mature broccoli, providing approximately 1,153 mg/100 g. The review notes that sulforaphane alters multiple epigenetic and non-epigenetic pathways to confer anticancer effects and exhibits a favorable safety profile. No specific clinical trial outcome numbers or effect sizes are reported in the abstract.

Why it matters

It provides an overview of the molecular targets and dietary sources of sulforaphane, supporting its continued investigation as a chemopreventive phytochemical.

Limits

The abstract describes a broad narrative literature review rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis. It provides no clinical efficacy data, human outcome statistics, or established standardized dosing regimens.

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