REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Cellular Neuropathology
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1601366
This article is part of the Research TopicNovel Approaches to Foster Brain Plasticity in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative DisordersView all 3 articles
Broccoli for the Brain: A Review of the Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Sulforaphane
Provisionally accepted
- 1East Carolina University, Greenville, United States
- 2East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, Illinois, United States
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Sulforaphane, a phytochemical abundant in the sprouts of cruciferous vegetables, protects plants during a critical period of development. Through sulforaphane's ability to activate the mammalian Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NRF2) pathway, these beneficial properties extend beyond plants. Our current review explores emerging neuroprotective mechanisms of sulforaphane and their relation to neurological disorders. Primarily, we discuss the ability of sulforaphane to mitigate oxidative stress and prevent neuroinflammation. Given sulforaphane's ability to activate multiple cytoprotective mechanisms, sulforaphane is emerging as a promising therapeutic for multiple neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we highlight current clinical trials in neurological disorders and conclude by discussing therapeutic opportunities and challenges for sulforaphane. Together, preclinical models and clinical trials highlight emerging themes of sulforaphane-mediated neuroprotection, including hormetic responses that depend upon the cell/tissue, neurological condition, insult, and developmental stage. In particular, low sulforaphane doses consistently exhibit beneficial effects in preclinical neuronal cell cultures models and avoid cytotoxic effects of higher sulforaphane doses. These factors will be important considerations in informing therapeutic use of sulforaphane.
Keywords: Sulforaphane, Nrf2, Autis Spectrum Disorder; ASD, Epilepsy, Neuroprotection
Received: 27 Mar 2025; Accepted: 10 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bessetti and Litwa. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Karen Litwa, East Carolina University, Greenville, United States
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