Selective effects of broccoli sprout consumption on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the cerebral cortex of cafeteria diet-fed mice

Abstract: Excess energy from a cafeteria diet causes the development of obesity and increases the risk of other health problems, like oxidative stress in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases. Broccoli sprouts are regarded as an anti-obesity and antioxidant supplement due to the potential of their compounds to stimulate cellular protective and regulatory systems, like Nrf2. This study aimed to investigate the effect of consuming broccoli sprouts on the activity of antioxidant and auxiliary enzymes in the cerebral cortex of cafeteria diet-fed mice. For 20 weeks, eight-month-old C57BL/6J males consumed a basal diet, a cafeteria diet, a basal diet with 5% broccoli sprouts, or a combination of a cafeteria diet with 2.5, 5, and 10% broccoli sprouts. Results demonstrated that only 10% broccoli sprouts with a cafeteria diet had a little improving effect on the activity of glutathione reductase in the cerebral cortex of mice. In contrast, consumption of 5% broccoli sprouts with a basal diet caused higher values of activities of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 compared to the rest groups. In conclusion, consumption of broccoli sprouts stimulates antioxidant defense and detoxification processes via Nrf2 target proteins in the cerebral cortex of mice fed a basic diet but not a hypercaloric cafeteria diet.