Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae.
These vegetables are widely cultivated, with many genera, species, and cultivars being
raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli and similar
green leaf vegetables.
The family takes its alternate name from the shape of their flowers, whose four petals
resemble a cross.
Ten of the most common cruciferous vegetables eaten by people, known colloquially as cole
crops, are in a single species; they are not distinguished from one another taxonomically,
only by horticultural category of cultivar groups.
Numerous other genera and species in the family are also edible.
Cruciferous vegetables are one of the dominant food crops worldwide.
They are high in vitamin C and soluble fiber and contain multiple nutrients and phytochemicals.
List of cruciferous vegetables Extensive selective breeding has produced
a large variety of cultivars, especially within the genus Brassica.
One description of genetic factors involved in the breeding of Brassica species is the
Triangle of U. Clinical significance
Antimicrobial activity Iso-thio-cyanates are an important factor
in the action of wasabi against Helicobacter pylori,.
Sulforaphane demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects on Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric
mucosae in mice and human subjects.
Cancer Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates
which in turn are converted into a number of chemicals which may have anticancer properties.
For example, 3,3'-diindolylmethane in Brassica vegetables is an androgen receptor antagonist
and is antiproliferative human prostate cancer cells.
Cruciferous vegetable consumption correlates with low cancer rates.
Furthermore, indole-3-carbinol and 3,3'-diindolylmethane also affect estrogen metabolism and lead to
favorable shifts in hormone markers which in turn may reduce the incidence of several
types of cancer.
I3C promotes cell death in breast, prostate, endometrium, colon, and white blood cancer
cells.
Ulyasov and others found positive results against leukemia with DIM, Glucobrassicin
being a precursor of DIM through indole-3-carbinol.
Drug and toxin metabolism Chemicals contained in cruciferous vegetables
induce the expression of the liver enzyme CYP1A2.
Furthermore some drugs such as haloperidol and theophylline are metabolized by CYP1A2.
Consequently consumption of cruciferous vegetable may decrease bioavailability and half-life
of these drugs.
Brassicaceae contain a number of compounds under preliminary research for their potential
hepato-protective properties.
Alliaceous and cruciferous vegetable consumption may induce glutathione S-transferases, uridine
diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferases, and quinone reductases all of which are potentially
involved in detoxification of carcinogens such as aflatoxin.
High consumption of cruciferous vegetables has potential risk from allergies, interference
with drugs like warfarin and genotoxicity.
Taste People who can taste phenylthiocarbamide,
which is either very bitter or tasteless, are less likely to eat cruciferous vegetables,
due to the resemblance between isothiocyanate and PTC.
Contraindications Goiter
Cruciferous vegetables can potentially be goitrogenic.
They contain enzymes that interfere with the formation of thyroid hormone in people with
iodine deficiency.
Cooking for 30 minutes significantly reduces the amount of goitrogens and nitriles.
At high intake of crucifers, the goitrogens inhibit the incorporation of iodine into thyroid
hormone and also the transfer of iodine into milk by the mammary gland.
Nursing Brassica species may cause baby colic in breast-feeding.
References
Further reading
External links Brassica juncea
Brassica napa Brassica oleracea
Chinese flowering cabbage Romanesco
Cruciferae Edible and useful plants