Indoles and Isothiocyanates

Products originated from the enzymatic degradation of glycosinolates found in cruciferous vegetables have antioxidant, antiteratogenic and modulating properties of estrogenic metabolism.

Indoles alone are not effective when in contact with gastric acid it is activated producing the metabolites responsible for the increase in cell apoptosis in cancer cells, in addition to inhibiting the growth of tumor strains.

Isothiocyanates, on the other hand, need to be reduced from their precursors, glucosinolates, providing cellular protection against oxidative stress, in addition to activating some liver detoxification enzymes.

Other benefits:

- Protector against breast, endometrial, cervical and prostate cancer

- Chemoprevention of gastrointestinal malignant tumors

- Helps in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

- Anti-atherogenic activity

- Indól 3C has been shown to be a free radical scavenger (“scavenger” effect)

- Increases the liver’s ability to eliminate toxic and dangerous substances

- Mechanism of action to estrogenic metabolites (estrogenic 2-hydroxyestrone)

- I3C has been shown to increase the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone

- Also inhibits estradiol 4-hydroxylation

- 2-hydroxyestrone inhibits oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL)

- This indicates that indole-3-carbinol has indirect antioxidant activity.

- It also appears to inhibit smooth muscle proliferation.