Natural toxins and protective factors in brassica species, including rapeseed

Many plant secondary metabolites exhibit a wide range of dose-related physiological properties when included in the diet of animals and man. Within the brassica family, the glucosinolates, a group of sulphur-containing glucosides have been the subject of a vast amount of study and the effects of dietary inclusion of such compounds or their metabolites on the health of animals and man are briefly reviewed. Although excessive amounts of glucosinolates in animal feed formulations may reduce growth and performance as well as affecting thyroid, liver, and kidney function, there is little evidence of such effects in man. On the contrary, compounds derived from glucosinolates as a consequence of enzymic breakdown or metabolism have been shown to activate mechanisms which moderate or reverse carcinogenic processes. Such effects may contribute to the net anti-carcinogenic benefit attributed to these vegetables in numerous epidemiological studies.