Glucoraphanin, the precursor of the widely extolled chemopreventive agent sulforaphane found in broccoli, has antioxidant activity.

Glucoraphanin reduces weight gain and increases energy expenditure in HFD-fed mice. Glucoraphanin can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in HFD-fed mice. However, Glucoraphanin does not exert antiobesity and insulin-sensitizing effects in Nrf2?/? Mice. Glucoraphanin blocks HFD-induced reduction of Ucp1 protein levels in white adipose depots of wild-type mice but not in Nrf2?/? mice. Glucoraphanin alleviates HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress. Glucoraphanin suppresses HFD-induced proinflammatory activation of macrophages in the liver and adipose tissue [1]. Mice with pellets including 0.1% Glucoraphanin (GF) significantly attenuates the decreased social avoidance time in stressed mice. In the 1% sucrose preference test (SPT), treatment with pellets including 0.1% GF significantly attenuates the decreased sucrose preference of stressed mice [2].

Male C57BL/6JSlc mice are 7 weeks of age. The Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2?/?) mouse strain is used in the assay. After 1 week of acclimation, mice are fed normal chow (NC) (containing 2.2% dextrinized cornstarch, 10% kcal from fat), NC containing 0.3% glucoraphanin (NC-GR) (containing 2.2% extract powder), an HFD (containing 2.2% dextrinized cornstarch, 60% kcal from fat), or an HFD containing 0.3% glucoraphanin (HFD-GR) (containing 2.2% extract powder) for 14 weeks. Both the NC and the HFD containing cornstarch or glucoraphanin are prepared. All mice studied are maintained on a 12-h light/dark cycle at 24-26°C with free access to water and food [1].