Sulforaphane in Broccoli May Treat Genetic Skin Disorder
December 5, 2007 by ruth
Filed under Food & Nutrition
Previously, sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to have anti-skin cancer properties. A new study indicates that sulforaphane also has potentials in treating a genetic skin blistering disorder called epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS).
As originally reported in the August 2007 issue of PNAS, the researchers found that exposing keratinocytes to sulforaphane caused the selective induction of keratins 16 and 17. Moving to an EBS mouse model with a K14 deficiency, they found that treatment with sulforaphane significantly reduced epidermal blistering while it was ineffective for a K5 deficient mouse.
Of course, there’s still a long way to go before sulforaphane can be declared as a potential drug component.
