abstract
- Glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites, are nitrogen- and sulfur-containing thioglucosides derived from glucose and amino acids. They are mainly found in the Brassicaceae family, including Brassica crops of economic and nutritional importance such as broccoli. In human health, the nutraceutical properties of glucosinolates have been mainly attributed to their hydrolysis products, specifically isothiocyanates. Sulforaphane (SFN) is by far the most studied isothiocyanate to date. Nanoformulations represent a novel approach for the administration and delivery of therapeutic agents directed to treat cancer and a large variety of ailments, exhibiting various advantages over traditional formulations. In this chapter, the health-promoting properties of SFN are summarized, as well as recent advances on nanoformulations applied to its delivery as a pharmaceutical agent.