Perspectives of the use of sulforaphane in animal model of colorectal carcinogenesis in Brazil

a review

Abstract

Colon cancer is a growing health problem in Brazil. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), colon cancer is among the top ten causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Besides, the disease has a significant economic impact on the Brazilian public health system. Over the past five years, there has been an increased interest in use, isolation, characterization and determination of the biological actions of compounds such as broccoli. Experimental studies with genetically modified (GMOs) rats, mice, and rats using Sulforaphane have demonstrated their ability to prevent, delay and reverse pre-neoplastic lesions, improved survival, as well as acting on neoplastic cells with therapeutic action. Sulforaphane through activation of Nrf2 increases the activity of phase II enzymes such as glutathione S transferase (GST), which is involved in the elimination of xenobiotic compounds. Aberrant crypts are induced, in Wistar rats and mice, by genotoxic and non-genotoxic chemical compounds. Colon carcinogenesis is generally induced in rats and mice by two substances, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and azoxymethane (AOM). Azoxymethane is often used concerning DMH because it is more potent and requires few reactions for its activation. It is possible to conclude that Sulforaphane, through its various biological actions, presents efficiency in the prevention of colon cancer and significant potential for use in future experimental studies with genetically modified rats, mice, and rats.