Download INTRODUCTION The family Brassicaceae includes about 400

INTRODUCTION
The family Brassicaceae includes about 400 genus and 4,000 species. Through the genetic
improvement several horticultural varieties that present economic interest, mainly B. oleracea
var. acephala (kale), Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), Brassica oleracea var.
gemmifera (Brussels sprouts), Brassica oleracea var. borytis (cauliflower) and Brassica
oleracea var. italica (broccoli). Other species economically important are Brassica nigra and
Sinapis spp. (mustards), Raphanus sativus (radish), Armoracia rusticana (horseradish),
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (watercress) and Eruca sativa (rocket)[1]. The family
Brassicaceae has been studied due to the pharmacologic properties of its main metabolite, the
glucosinolates (GLS). These metabolites, as well as, their hydrolysis products (isothiocyanate
and nitriles) are powerful antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic agents[2, 3].
All the varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and nolecole are produced from the
wild cabbage- the Colewort which grows wild on hills. Total world production of broccoli in
2012 was estimated at 21,266,789 tonnes. Major broccoli producing country is China
9,500,000 tonnes, India 7,000,000, Italy 414,142. In the production of broccoli India comes
on number second followed by the China which is the top most producer of broccoli[4].
Introduction to plant profile
Plant profile of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica (Broccoli)
Flower vegetable
Whole plant
Taxonomical Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants, Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants, Superdivision:
Spermatophyta – Seed plants, Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants, Class:
Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons, Subclass: Dilleniidae, Order: Brassicales, Family:
Brassicaceae, Genus: Brassica, Species: Brassica oleracea L. var. italica[4].
Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Blomkool, Kool, Arabic: Karnabeet, Burmese: Paan Gor Bi, Chinese: Cai Hua,
Gai Lan Hua, Dutch: Bloekmool, French: Chou Brocoli, Chou Fluer, German: Blumenkohl,
Hindi: Broccoli, Indonesia: Kobis Bunga, Kol Bunga, Italy: Broccoli, Cavolo Broccolo,
Cavolfiore, Japanese: Hana Kysabestu, Hana Yana, Korean: Ja-Ju-Yang-Bae-Chu, Mo Ran
Chae[5].
Distribution
Brassica oleracea is commonly found in Italy, Central and northern Europe, West Africa.
Plant mainly distributed in China, India, Mexico, France, Poland, United States, Pakistan,
Germany and Egypt[6, 7].
In India Brassica oleracea grow in high places like Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and
Bandel area of district Ranchi[4].
Description
Erect, glabrous, annual or biennial herb up to 80 cm tall at the mature vegetative stage, up to
150 cm when flowering, with unbranched stem thickening upwards; root system strongly
branched. Leaves alternate but closely arranged and more or less erect, forming a rosette
surrounding the young inflorescence especially in cauliflower, usually simple; stipules
absent; leaves almost sessile, but often shortly petiolate in broccoli; blade ovate to oblong, up
to 80 cm × 40 cm, undulate or irregularly incised to almost entire, coated with a layer of wax,
blue-green with whitish veins. Inflorescence a terminal paniculate raceme up to 70 cm long,
when young (curd or head) composed of more or less densely arranged branching partial
inflorescences and fleshy peduncles, in cauliflower up to 30 cm in diameter, very solid and
globular to rather loose and flat, white to green, in broccoli less densely arranged with longer
peduncles, green to purple. Flowers bisexual, regular, 4-merous; pedicel up to 2 cm long,
ascending; sepals oblong, c. 1 cm long, erect; petals obovate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, clawed, pale
to bright yellow or whitish; stamens 6; ovary -superior, cylindrical, 2-celled, stigma globose.
Fruit a linear silique 5–10 cm × c. 5 mm, with a tapering beak 5–15 mm long, dehiscent, up
to 30-seeded. Seeds globose, 2–4 mm in diameter, finely reticulate, brown. Seedling with
epigeal germination, with a taproot and lateral roots; hypocotyl 3–5 cm long, epicotyl absent;
cotyledons with petiole 1–2 cm long, blade cordate, 1–1.5 cm long, cuneate at base, notched
at apex [8,9].
Traditional Uses
Antiatherosclerotic,
Antibacterial,
Antimaculitic,
Antinitrosaminic,
Antinyctalopic,
Antiproliferant, Antioxidant, Antiradicular, Antiretinitic, Antitumor, breast, Antitumor,
colon, Antitumor, lung, Antitumor, skin, Antiviral, Detoxicant, Estrogenic, Glucuronidase
Inhibitor, Goitrogenic, Hypocholesterolemic, Prooxidant, Quinone-Reductase-Inducer 10 and
Anticonvulsant [11].
PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The phytochemical screening was carried on the leaves extracts of Brassica oleracea L. var.
italica revealed the presence of some active ingredients such as Alkaloids, Saponins,
Glycosides, Cardiac glycosides, Anthraquinones, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Steroids,
Terpenoids and Flavonoids. The principle component present is glucosinolate. Glucosinolates
are known to possess antibacterial, antifungal as well as anticancerous activity [12].
Table 1.
Phytochemical analysis of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica extracts
Phytochemicals
Solvents
Pet Ether Chloroform
Eta
Acetone
Methanol
Aqueous
Alkaloids
-
-
-
+
-
+
Flavonoids
+
-
+
+
+
-
Glycosides
-
+
+
-
+
-
Phenols
-
-
-
-
-
-
Saponins
+
-
-
-
+
+
Steroids
-
-
+
+
+
-
Tannins
-
-
-
-
-
-
Terpenoids
+
-
-
-
+
+
(+) presence; (-) absence
Pet Ether: petroleum ether; Eta: ethyl acetate
Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
TLC was performed to separate the glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin,
glucoiberin, progoitrin, sinigrin, gluconapin, glucoerucin and neo-glucobrassicin) and its
hydrolysis products (isothiocyanates, nitriles) from Brassica oleracea extract.
Three extracts were used for TLC i.e. defatted soxhlet extract, defatted cold
macerated extract and defatted fresh Brassica oleracea extract. For defatted Soxhlet and cold
macerated extract, ground Brassica oleracea was defatted with diethylether (in soxhlet, and
on rotary shaker), then extracted with 80 % methanol and further utilized for TLC. For fresh
Brassica oleracea extract, 30 gm of fresh Brassica oleracea with diethyl-ether was kept for 2
days followed by 80 % ethanol for 3 days on rotary shaker (same as for cold macerated
extract). The supernatant obtained was utilized for TLC. After spraying and heating the TLC
plates (as described above) the plates were checked for the development of spots. The spots
obtained were then calculated for Rf values so that the compound can be identified [13].
The Rf values were calculated by:
Rf =
Distance travelled by solute
Distance travelled by solvent
Table 2.
Detected glucosinolates in extracts and their Rf values
Extract
Phytochemical
Rf-values
Soxhlet Extract
Glucobrassicin
0.6
Cold extract
Glucobrassicin
0.6
Fresh Brassica oleracea extract
Glucobrasicin-1-sulphonate
0.3
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Broccoli can provide cholesterol-lowering benefits and positive impact on our body’s
detoxification system. Because broccoli is one of the very low calorie vegetables; provides
just 34 calories per 100 g. Nevertheless, it is rich in dietary fibres, minerals, vitamins, and
anti-oxidants that have proven health benefits.
Fresh Broccoli contains many phyto-nutrients such as thiocyanates, indoles,
sulforaphane, isothiocyanates and flavonoids like beta-carotene cryptoxanthin, lutein, and
zea-xanthin. Broccoli contains Vitamin C and Vitamin A in high amount.
Flower vegetable is rich source of Vitamin K and B-complex group of vitamins like niacin
(Vit. B-3), pantothenic acid (Vit. B-5), pyridoxine (Vit.B-6), and riboflavin. The flower heads
also have some amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
It is also a good source of minerals like calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium,
selenium, zinc and phosphorus [14,15].
PHARMCOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
The plant Brassica oleracea has been proved for various medicinal activities like
antibacterial activity, antihelminitic activity, anti-microbial activity, anticancer activity, antinociceptive effect, antioxidant activity, relaxation of rat uterine, hepatoprotective activity,
anti-inflammatory activity, antitrypanosomal effect and weight loss.
Antibacterial Activity
Various extract of Brassica oleracea L. showed the antibacterial activity against six food
borne bacteria viz., Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633,
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhimurium
MTCC 3224 and Shigella flexneri ATCC 12022. In acetone and methanolic extract Minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 10 - 320 µg/ml were recorded against most of the
pathogens. B. subtilis ATCC 6633 (15.4 mm) and Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876 (16.3 mm)
were found to be the most sensitive organisms among the pathogens tested [12].
In another study various extracts of Brassica oleraceae were investigated against a few
drug resistant uropathogens. This showed the antibacterial activity against both gram positive
and gram negative bacteria. The extracts showed significant zones of inhibition ranging from
4 to 14 mm respectively, whereas the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against them
ranged from 6.25 to 200 µg/ml concentrations. The lowest activity of MIC was shown against
Proteus mirabilis at 6.25 µg/ml by ethyl acetate extract [16].
Antihelmintic Activity
Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of seeds of Brassica juncea and flower of Brassica
oleracea showed the antihelminitic activity. The various concentrations of the extract (100,
150, 200,300,500 mg/ml) respectively were screened for their anthelmintic activity using
Pheritima posthuma and activities were comparable with the standard drug Albendazole. This
showed dose dependent activity. The determination of time of paralysis (P) and time of death
(D) of the worms was carried out. Hydroalcoholic extract of Brassica juncea and Brassica
oleracea showed more prominent anthelmintic activity [17].
Anti-microbial Activity
Various extract of the Brassica oleracea (aqueous, acetone, petroleum ether and chloroform)
showed the anti-microbial activity against the bacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella
flexneri, E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungal (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus,
Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium species) isolates. Among the four extracts tested,
acetone extract exhibited maximum activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella
flexneri, E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and a narrow range of activity was exhibited
against aqueous, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus
niger was found to be sensitive to acetone extracts when compared with Aspergillus
fumigatus and Cladosporium species [18].
Anticancer Activity
Sulforaphane (SFN) an isothiocyanate formed by hydrolysis of glucosinolates found in
Brassica oleracea was reported to possess anticancer and antioxidant activities and was
evaluated by MTT assay in human epithelial carcinoma Hep-2 and Vero cells. Results
showed that standard SFN and purified SFN concentration found to have closer IC50 which is
equal to 58.96 microgram/ml (Hep-2 cells), 61.2 microgram/ml (Vero cells) and less than the
extract which is found to be 113 microgram/ml (Hep-2 cells) and 125 microgram/ml (Vero
cells) [3].
Anti-nociceptive Effect
Hydroalcoholic extract of Brassica oleracea exhibited the anti-nociceptive activity against
Formalin test induced pain model. The Animals were pre-treated with the Brassica oleracea
extract (500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/p.o.). Data shows there is decreased pain in formalin test in
the group that received 2000 mg/kg/p.o. dose of extract in comparison to other groups [19].
Antioxidant Activity
Various extract of Brassica oleracea were evaluated for their total phenolic contents and
antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. The
study showed that the ethanolic leaves extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata which
contains highest amount of phenolic compounds exhibited the greatest anti-oxidant activity
than Petroleum Ether, ethylacetate, chloroform and aqueous extracts [2].
Relaxation of rat uterine
Fresh juice of Brassica oleracea var. capitata showed the H2 receptor antagonistic action.
Two sets of experiments consisted of recording the responses of the uterine horn preparations
(precontracted with potassium chloride, KCl) to histamine (4.5; 9; 17.99; 35.99; 71.98 × 10–4
and 14.40× 10–3 mol/L, 2 minute each concentration) in absence and presence of SChlorpheniramine, ranitidine and BOCJ. Results indicated that histamine (EC50 = 19.05 ±
1.76 × 10-4 mol/L, p < 0.001) produces relaxation of potassium chloride precontracted
isolated rat uterus. This effect of histamine is abolished by ranitidine, a selective H2
histamine receptor antagonist and BOCJ in a concentration dependent manner [20].
Hepatoprotective activity
Ethanolic leaves extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata possessed the significant
hepatoprotective activity against simvastatin (20 mg/kg p.o. for 30 days) induced
hepatotoxicity. Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata (300 mg/kg/p.o. and 500 mg/kg/p.o.)
showed the protective effect which was identified by increased in Serum Glutamate Pyruvate
Transaminase (SGPT), Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT), Alanine
Phosphatase (ALP), Serum bilirubin and decreased in Total proteins content and in oxidative
stress markers such as GPx, GST, SOD and CAT in simvastatin treated rats [21].
Anti-inflammatory activity
Methanolic extracts of different cabbage heads showed different anti-inflammatory activity
values. All tested extracts showed high anti-inflammatory value in a range 0–100 μg
concentration where Chinese, Savoy and Green heads had the highest anti-inflammatory
activity; while Red heads had the lowest anti-inflammatory activity value. Anti-inflammatory
activities were analyzed by spectrophotometer [22].
Antitrypanosomal Effects
Methanolic plant extracts (MPES) of Brassica Oleracea fruits and leaves at different
concentrations (250-1000 µg/ml) were tested against Trypanosoma evansi on Vero cell line.
In-vivo infectivity test of incubated MPES of Brassica Oleracea fruits, leaves and medium
with trypanosomes were done in mice. In-vitro cytotoxicity of the test extracts at
concentrations (1.56-100 µg/ml) was performed on Vero cells. Both MPES of Brassica
Oleracea fruits and leaves demonstrated trypanocidal activity, which ranged from
immobilization, reduction and to the killing of trypanosomes. MPES of Brassica oleracea
fruits, leaves and diminazine aceturate (Berenil) were cytotoxic to Vero cells at all
concentrations except at 1.56, 1.56 and 6.25-1.56 µg/ml, respectively 23.
Weight loss
Chloroform extract, combined ethyl acetate and ethanol and the crude extract of Brassica
oleracea showed significant loss in the body weight of female rats at 5% and 1%. Water
extract of Green tea showed the 117 g total loss in body weight while chloroform extract
showed higher total loss in the body weight i.e. 180 g [24].
Hypocholesterolemic Activity
Methanolic and aqueous extracts of Brassica oleracea leaves reported to have the
hypocholesterolemic activity when tested against Cu2+- induced oxidation model for its
susceptibility of isolated lipoproteins- very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density
lipoproteins (LDL). This study showed that both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation in both
isolated VLDL and LDL. So Brassica oleracea consumption may play an important
protective role in the cardiovascular and other related diseases resulting from imbalance of
oxidant and antioxidant status [25].
ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY
The toxicity of Brassica oleracea extract study did not show any toxic effects in albino mice.
No death was observed up to the oral administration of extract dose concentration 200-2000
mg/kg body weight during the 72 hours of study period [21].
CONCLUSION
The extensive literature survey revealed that broccoli is an important medicinal plant due to
its high nutritional value and traditional uses to treat diseases and presence of many active
chemical constituents which are responsible for various medicinal and pharmacological
properties. Broccoli is also consumed worldwide as fresh vegetables (in salad), in cooked
form and as boiled form. Further evaluation needs to be carried out on broccoli in order to
confirm its medicinal uses and development of formulations containing this plant for their
practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of mankind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author sincerely pays gratitude to the sub authors for their valuable contribution in
making this article a useful one
H
N
OH
O
HO
S
OH
HO
HO
OH HO
OH
Progoitrin
Glucobrassicin
H3C
S
N
S
HO
N
O CH3
neo-glucobrassicin
OH
OH
Glucoerucin
H2 C
O
O
S
N
HO
O
HO
S
O
OH
OH
OH
O
Glucoiberin
O
OH
S
O
O
N
O
O
S
O
OH
S
S
S
O
O
OH
N
S
OH O
O
O
OH
OH
Sinigrin
O
O
SO3 K
HO
OH
OH
O
N
ON
S
O
C
O
O
S
HO
HO
OH
S
O
N
OH
O S O
OH
OH
Glucoraphanin
O
HO
HO
O
S
CH2
HO
O
S HO
O
O
N
OH
O
S
OH
HO
OH
Gluconapin
H3C
O
S
NCS
Sulforaphane
Figure 1: Chemical structure of some phytochemical constituents present in Brassica
oleracea
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