Erucin is an isothiocyanate derived from glucoerucin, a glucosinolate predominant in arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) and other cruciferous vegetables. At 2.5-5 μM erucin can induce significant neuroprotective and antioxidant effects, increasing both total glutathione levels and total antioxidant capacity at the cytosolic level in dopaminergic-like neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.[1] Growth inhibition, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and induction of detoxification enzymes have all been reported from use of erucin in prostate, lung, liver, and colon cancer cells.[2][3]
Reference:
[1]. Tarozzi, A., Morroni, F., Bolondi, C., et al. Neuroprotective effects of erucin against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative damage in a dopaminergic-like neuroblastoma cell line. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 13, 10899-10910 (2012).
[2]. Melchini, A., and Traka, M.H. Biological profile of erucin: A new promising anticancer agent from cruciferous vegetables. Toxins 2, 593-612 (2010).
[3]. Zhang, Y., Talalay, P., Cho, C.G., et al. A major inducer of anticarcinogenic protective enzymes from broccoli: Isolation and elucidation of structure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 89, 2399-2403 (1992).