Protective role of sulforaphane in lipid metabolism-related diseases

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a phytochemical bioactive substance commonly found in cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and mustard. It has been reported to possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and autophagy regulating properties. Recent studies have revealed that SFN regulates fat metabolism both in vivo and in vitro through various mechanisms, including alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, inhibiting inflammatory response and improving mitochondrial dysfunction, involving Nrf2/ARE, NF-κB, NLRP3 inflammasome, HDAC8-PGC1α axis and other signaling pathways. By curbing complications associated with abnormal fat metabolic diseases, SFN exhibits therapeutic effects on conditions like obesity, fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, etc., with minimal side effects. Therefore, it holds promise as a potential alternative treatment for lipid metabolism-related diseases. Although its extraction method has been matured, the thermal instability and preservation difficulties of SFN limit its clinical promotion. More effective and low-cost methods to improve the stability and production of SFN remain to be further studied. This paper reviews the physiological and biological activities of SFN, and summarizes the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of SFN in diseases related to abnormal lipid metabolism. Additionally, it proposes potential challenges, possible solutions and future research directions in the clinical application of SFN.