Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Superbacterial Properties of Sulforaphane from Shepherd’s Purs

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Superbacterial Properties of Sulforaphane from Shepherd’s Purs

Shepherd’s purse, Capsella <em>bursa-pastoris</em> (L.) Medik., has been considered a health food for centuries in Asia and is known to contain the isothiocyanate compound sulforaphane. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of a sulforaphane-containing solution (SCS) isolated from shepherd’s purse. SCS had significant anti-inflammatory activity indicated by the decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (interleukin 1β [IL-1β], IL-6, and IL-10), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. In addition, SCS decreased the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) levels, which confirmed the anti- inflam-matory activity of SCS. Further, SCS inhibited vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Bacillus anthracis. The minimal inhibitory concentration was 250 μg/ml for VRE and 1,000 μg/ml for B. anthracis. Taken together, these data indicate that SCS has potential anti-inflammatory and anti- superbacterial properties, and thus it can be used as a functional food or pharmaceutical.