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Anti-cancer effects of wasabi |
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Anti-cancer effects of wasabi
Wasabi contains isothiocyanates, which are known to neutralize carcinogens and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Already in 1991 Tanida and co-workers at Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan, demonstrated the chemoprotective of wasabi in rats [1]. They found that the administration of wasabi powder to rats prevented the carcinogenesis induced by the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine.
Hou and co-workers at the Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, China, wrote in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry about the anti-cancer mechanisms of 6-(Methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC), a bioactive phytochemical present in wasabi [2]. They found that the phytochemical increased the level of nuclear factor Nrf2 that is responsible for the induction of many cytoprotective proteins, such as NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 that catalyzes the reduction and detoxification of highly reactive quinines. A Japanese study conducted by Nomura at Kanazawa Gakuin College concluded that 6-MITC is a new possible candidate for controlling cancer cells [3]. They came to this conclusion after testing the effects of 6-MITC on cultured human cancer cells. A very low and practical dose was sufficient to inhibit cell growth and cell survival.
Beside 6-MITS, wasabi contains other anti-cancer phytochemicals. Weil and co-workers isolated two monogalactosyl diacylglycerides that were able inhibit COX-1 enzyme [4]. They found that 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-beta-galactosylglycerol also inhibited the growth of colon, lung, and stomach cancer cells.
However, desulfosinigrin is phytochemical found in fresh wasabi roots and commercially available wasabi powder that promotes the growth of cultured colon and lung cancer cells [5].
References
[1] Suppressive effect of wasabi (pungent Japanese spice) on gastric carcinogenesis induced by MNNG in rats. Nutr Cancer. 1991;16(1):53-8.
[2] Dynamics of Nrf2 and Keap1 in ARE-mediated NQO1 expression by wasabi 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate. J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Nov 23;59(22):11975-82.
[3] Selective sensitivity to wasabi-derived 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate of human breast cancer and melanoma cell lines studied in vitro. Cancer Detect Prev. 2005;29(2):155-60.
[4] Tumor cell proliferation and cyclooxygenase inhibitory constituents in horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and Wasabi (Wasabia japonica). J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Mar 9;53(5):1440-4.
[5] Colon cancer proliferating desulfosinigrin in wasabi (Wasabia japonica). Nutr Cancer. 2004;48(2):207-13.
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