Brocco Detox features broccoli seed extract enhanced with myrosinase, the enzyme that promotes the conversion of naturally occurring glucoraphanin in broccoli to sulforaphane (SFN).

A potent activator of antioxidant activity, healthy cell-life cycles, and the production of detoxification enzymes, SFN is linked to the many health benefits associated with cruciferous vegetables.*

There is a link between the regular intake of cruciferous vegetables and good health.

This connection can be attributed to a naturally occurring phytochemical called glucoraphanin, which is found in plants from the Brassicaceae family.

Glucoraphanin is also known as sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), a precursor for the biologically active yet highly reactive and unstable compound isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN).

The positive effects of SFN on antioxidant activity, detoxification, cellular metabolism, and cell-life regulation have been documented.

Manipulating foods containing glucoraphanin by physical processes, such as chopping or chewing, triggers the natural enzymatic activity of the plant enzyme myrosinase, which is responsible for the conversion of glucoraphanin to SFN.

Gastrointestinal microorganisms also produce SFN from glucoraphanin, which is important as glucoraphanin from food is rarely affected by cooking however, myrosinase is denatured irrespective of cooking.[1-3]

Metabolism of SFN occurs via the mercapturic acid pathway, and metabolites yielded through this process predominately appear in the urine as SFN N-acetyl- L-cysteine (SFN-NAC), a standard measure of SFN bioavailability.*[2]

Mustard seeds are a naturally rich source of myrosinase, and mustard seed powder has been shown in vitro to be capable of reinitiating SGS hydrolysis to SFN. In a crossover study designed to investigate the bioavailability of SFN, SFN-NAC was measured in the urine of healthy adults (N = 12) after consumption of cooked broccoli with and without mustard powder. The addition of mustard powder enhanced the formation of SFN metabolites, suggesting that the presence of plant myrosinase is important for SFN bioavailability.*[2]

In a small study (N = 22), the bioavailability of SFN was evaluated through urinary measurement of SFN metabolites after direct administration of glucoraphanin from broccoli seed extract (BSE) or by coadministration of glucoraphanin and the enzyme myrosinase.

A range of doses and delivery matrices (liquid bolus or gel capsules) were used. All preparations that included myrosinase were 3- to 4-fold more bioavailable than the samples without myrosinase, which is consistent with previously published data.

Prehydrolyzed BSE in juice containing vitamin C provided similar bioavailability to the gel capsules.
Sulforaphane is an effective, long-acting, indirect antioxidant and a significant inducer of phase II detoxification enzymes.[2]

Mechanistically, it stimulates the expression of critical enzymes (via the KEAP1/Nrf2/ARE pathways), which supports antioxidant activity, redox cycling, and phase II detoxification. The activation of transcription factor Nrf2 results in increased output of enzymes (primarily glutathione and superoxide dismutase) that can extend antioxidant activity longer than direct antioxidants, such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene. The activation of Nrf2 also regulates the production of detoxification enzymes, including glutathione S-transferase, and downregulates inflammatory signaling factors, such as NF-κB. Additionally, the antioxidant enzymes generated are thought to participate in the recycling and maintenance of vitamins A, C, and E.[3,4]

In turn, the role of vitamin C in the activation of myrosinase could be the basis of a regulation mechanism for myrosinase activity contributing to the redox potential in cells.*[4,5]

Support for Cellular Health and Cell-Life Cycles
Sulforaphane is believed to play a multidimensional cytoprotective role, maintain cellular health, support healthy cell-life cycles, and promote a healthy inflammatory response.[6]

Coupled with an inhibitory effect on certain phase I enzymes, the induction of phase II enzymes and their effect on Nrf2 pathways are considered paramount to SFN’s protective effect on cells.*[7-9]