Benzyl isothiocyanate explained

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is an isothiocyanate found in plants of the mustard family.

Occurrence

It can be found in Alliaria petiolata, pilu oil, and papaya seeds^[1] where it is the main product of the glucotropaeolin breakdown by the enzyme myrosinase.

Activity

Benzyl isothiocyanate, and other isothiocyanates in general, were found to be protective against pancreatic carcinogenesis in vitro^[2] via expression of the p21/WAF1 gene.^[3] A recent published study showed its restraining impact on obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity mouse model.^[4]

Notes and References

1. 10.1021/jf070159w. 17469845. Papaya Seed Represents a Rich Source of Biologically Active Isothiocyanate. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55. 11. 4407–13. 2007. Nakamura. Yoshimasa. Yoshimoto. Motoko. Murata. Yoshiyuki. Shimoishi. Yasuaki. Asai. Yumi. Park. Eun Young. Sato. Kenji. Nakamura. Yasushi.
2. 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.10.028. 16386831. Protective effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and sulforaphane but not resveratrol against initiation of pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters. Cancer Letters. 241. 2. 275–80. 2006. Kuroiwa. Yuichi. Nishikawa. Akiyoshi. Kitamura. Yasuki. Kanki. Keita. Ishii. Yuji. Umemura. Takashi. Hirose. Masao.
3. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.09.092. 17026958. P38MAPK mediates benzyl isothiocyanate-induced p21WAF1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells via the regulation of Sp1. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 350. 3. 662–8. 2006. Moon. Sung-Kwon. Choi. Yung-Hyun. Kim. Cheorl-Ho. Choi. Won-Seok.
4. Alsanea. Sary. Liu. Dexi. November 2017. BITC and S-Carvone Restrain High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Ameliorate Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance. Pharmaceutical Research. 34. 11. 2241–2249. 10.1007/s11095-017-2230-3. 1573-904X. 28733781. 5757875.