The overall goals are to develop plant-derived glucosinolates (GS) for long-term human use as dietary chemoprotectors against cancer and other chronic diseases. GS are a large family of thioglucoside N-hydroxysulfates synthesized by plants from several classes of amino acids. They are very abundant in crucifers (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) and are likely to provide the main phytochemical contribution to the chemoprotective properties of these plants. GS are the stable, biologically inactive storage forms of isothiocyanates which are potent inhibitors of tumor development and growth. Bioactivation (conversion) of GS to isothiocyanates is catalyzed by plant cell myrosinase and by the gastrointestinal microflora. Mechanistic understanding of the mode of action of these phytochemicals has advanced greatly. The principal obstacles to progress are now lack of adequate quantities of pure GS for evaluation in cells, animals, and humans, and to control and improve bioavailability.
Aim 1 is concerned with developing more efficient methods for isolating and purifying new and already known GS on a progressively larger scale from milligrams to kilograms. With support of this grant, a major advance has been our development of highly efficient continuous, centrifugal, counter-current partition chromatography methods which are easily scalable, and have made possible the production of almost 1 kg of glucoraphanin (the precursor of sulforaphane) and its submission to the NCI RAPID program for clinical development.
This aim seeks to expand this novel and highly efficient separation technology for isolation of additional new glucosinolates guided by their biological activities.
Aim 2 will evaluate the biological activities of a small number of the most promising candidate GS. Activity testing will include evaluating phase 2 enzyme induction, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potencies in cell lines;prevention of mouse skin tumors;and protection of human skin against UV. Proposed studies will also assay the antibiotic activity of GS hydrolysates against Helicobacter pylori (a major causative agent of gastric cancer).
Aim 3 will identify individuals with high and low GS to isothiocyanate conversion phenotypes and attempt to discern the factors contributing to these characteristics. Cohorts with stable low conversion phenotypes will be subjected to a variety of dietary modifications, including prebiotic and probiotic interventions, in order to increase conversions and improve the bioavailability of isothiocyanates from GS, and enhance their protective efficacy. This information will advance our development of GS as chemoprotectors and could lead to major health benefits.

Public Health Relevance

The goals of this project are to identify plant components that block the development of cancer and other chronic diseases by boosting our cellular defenses against oxidants, DNA-damaging chemicals, inflammation and radiation. We will isolate these components in adequate quantities for evaluation in animals and humans, and formulate appropriate recommendations to achieve disease risk reduction in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA093780-08
Application #
8114211
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ONC-L (03))
Program Officer
Seifried, Harold E
Project Start
2001-12-01
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$354,345
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Wade, Kristina L; Ito, Yoichiro; Ramarathnam, Aarthi et al. (2015) Purification of active myrosinase from plants by aqueous two-phase counter-current chromatography. Phytochem Anal 26:47-53
Fahey, Jed W; Stephenson, Katherine K; Wallace, Alison J (2015) Dietary amelioration of Helicobacter infection. Nutr Res 35:461-73
Kensler, Thomas W; Egner, Patricia A; Agyeman, Abena S et al. (2013) Keap1-nrf2 signaling: a target for cancer prevention by sulforaphane. Top Curr Chem 329:163-77
Tsuji, Petra A; Stephenson, Katherine K; Wade, Kristina L et al. (2013) Structure-activity analysis of flavonoids: direct and indirect antioxidant, and antiinflammatory potencies and toxicities. Nutr Cancer 65:1014-25
Fahey, Jed W; Stephenson, Katherine K; Wade, Kristina L et al. (2013) Urease from Helicobacter pylori is inactivated by sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 435:1-7
Fahey, Jed W; Wehage, Scott L; Holtzclaw, W David et al. (2012) Protection of humans by plant glucosinolates: efficiency of conversion of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates by the gastrointestinal microflora. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 5:603-11
Kensler, Thomas W; Ng, Derek; Carmella, Steven G et al. (2012) Modulation of the metabolism of airborne pollutants by glucoraphanin-rich and sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout beverages in Qidong, China. Carcinogenesis 33:101-7
Benedict, Andrea L; Knatko, Elena V; Dinkova-Kostova, Albena T (2012) The indirect antioxidant sulforaphane protects against thiopurine-mediated photooxidative stress. Carcinogenesis 33:2457-66
Fahey, Jed W; Talalay, Paul; Kensler, Thomas W (2012) Notes from the field: ""green"" chemoprevention as frugal medicine. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 5:179-88
Rodriguez-Cantu, Laura N; Gutierrez-Uribe, Janet A; Arriola-Vucovich, Jennifer et al. (2011) Broccoli ( Brassica oleracea var. italica) sprouts and extracts rich in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates affect cholesterol metabolism and genes involved in lipid homeostasis in hamsters. J Agric Food Chem 59:1095-103

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