Broccoli sprouts and ischemia:
Broccoli sprouts reduced blood markers of necrosis, cell death and oxidative stress caused by ischemia (starvation of oxygen from reduced blood supply) in rats. Akhlaghi et al. administered a regular (control) diet or a diet mixed with 2% dried broccoli sprouts to rats for 10 days. At the end of the study period, the hearts of the rats were subjected to a decrease in the blood supply to tissues (ischemia) for 20 min and reperfusion (return of blood supply) for 2 hours, and evaluated for cell death, oxidative damage, and Nrf2-regulated phase 2 enzyme activities. In rats fed broccoli sprouts , markers of necrosis (premature cell death) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) was decreased by 78-86%, and indices of oxidative stress decreased by 82-116%. The results indicate that a diet with broccoli sprouts can protect the heart against oxidative stress and cell death caused by ischemia-reperfusion. (4)