In a study funded by the British Heart Foundation charity and conducted on mice, the researchers found out that sulforaphane — a compound occurring naturally in broccoli and other brassicas — could “switch on” a protective protein, which is inactive in parts of the arteries vulnerable to clogging.
Brassica is a genus of plants in the mustard family. The members of the genus are collectively known either as cabbages or mustards.
The study explains how green-vegetable consumption promotes a healthy heart. Scientists already know that arteries don’t clog up in a uniform way, but there are bends and branches of blood vessels — where blood flow is disrupted or slower — which are more prone to the buildup of fatty plaques that cause heart disease.
“We know that vegetables are clearly good for you, but surprisingly the molecular mechanisms of why they are good for you have remained unknown for many years,” said Paul Evans of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College. Evans said that his research found out that in the more vulnerable areas there is a protective protein (Nrf2) that is inactive. It is the compound sulforaphane that switches on the Nrf2 to protect the areas at risk.
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