Exploiting natural diversity
the development of BeneforteTM broccoli
Maria Traka
Food and Health Programme
Institute of Food Research
UK
Wednesday 18th November 2015
A brief summary of….
Plant and crop science
What is so special about broccoli
then…?
IP and industry partners
How do you make a better
broccoli…?
Cell and animal models
How do you prove that is
better…?
Human studies
Evidence for health benefit
Epidemiological studies show...
Reduction in cancer incidence and progression
• Prostate
• Colon
• Lung
• Kidney
• Breast
Richman et al. (2011) Vegetable and Fruit intake after diagnosis and risk of prostate cancer
progression. International Journal of Cancer 10.1002/ijc.26348
Kirsh et al. (2007) Prospective study of fruit and vegetable intake and risk of prostate
cancer. Journal National Cancer Institute 99, 1200 – 1209
Annema et al. (2011) Fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of proximal colon,
distal colon, and rectal cancers in a case-control study in Western Australia. J Am Diet
Assoc. 2011 Oct;111(10):1479-90.
Protection from cardiovascular disease
Zhang et al (2011) Cruciferous vegetable consumption is associated with
reduction in risk of total and cardiovascular disease mortality. AJCN 94, 240-6
Higher levels of consumption!
Cruciferous vegetables
1.8
Prostate cancer progression
Relative risk
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
20
40
60
80
100
g/day
Cruciferous vegetables mg/day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Portions per week
Richman, E.L., P.R. Carroll, and J.M. Chan (2012) Vegetable and fruit intake after diagnosis
and risk of prostate cancer progression. International Journal of Cancer 131(1):201-10
Cruciferous vegetables
Minerals
•Calcium
•Potassium
•Magnesium
•Iron
•Manganese
•Zinc
•Selenium
Vitamins
Polyphenols
Organo-sulphur compounds
•C, A, E, K, B1, B2
•Folates
•Quercetin glycosides
•Kaempferol glycosides
•Chlorogenic acid
•Sinapic acid
•S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide
•Glucosinolates
4-methylsylphinylbutyl glucosinolate –
Glucoraphanin
NOSO3
HO
S
S
OH
OH
O
O
OH
S
N C
S
O
4-methylsylphinylbutyl isothiocyanate –
Sulforaphane
Bioactive in
cell and
animal
models:
• Inhibition of cancer cell growth
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Induction of antioxidant defences
Can we develop broccoli with enhanced health
benefits?
1983 – collection of wild
broccoli ancestors
Wild members of the B.oleracea
n=9 species complex are found on
maritime cliffs of the
Mediterranean and western
Europe
These taxa can be used as a
source of novel traits for
B.oleracea.
Development of BeneforteTM broccoli
Three fold increase in glucosinolates
through introgression of novel alleles
from wild Brassica species
NOSO3
S
O
HO
S
OH
OH
O
OH
Functional food?
Plant studies –characterisation and genetics
Animal studies – mechanistic understanding
Human studies – clinical effects and mechanisms
Source of Myb28
Commercial hybrids are
heterozygous for Myb28villosa
Lines that are
homozygous for
Myb28villosa have
seven fold increase
in glucoraphainin
Traka et al (2013) Genetic regulation of
glucoraphanin accumulation in Beneforte
broccoli. New Phytologist 198(4):1085-95
Metabolism & BASH studies
– studies with CVD-relevant clinical endpoint
• 133 Men and women
• 50 – 80 years old
• 10 – 30% risk of CVD
T12
T0
12 weeks dietary intervention
Analyses of plasma
lipid metabolites and
biomarkers of CVD
risk
Analyses of plasma
lipid metabolites and
biomarkers of CVD
risk
Metabolism & BASH studies
– studies with CVD-relevant clinical endpoint
serum LDL cholesterol was
reduced by 5.8% (P=0.031)
Standard broccoli
n=67
Beneforte broccoli
2
0
-2
-4
-6
-8
-1
0
n=66
Change in % LDL
Armah et al (2015) A diet rich in high glucoraphanin reduces plasma LDL cholesterol:
evidence from randomised controlled trials. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
Can we prevent prostate cancer progression by Beneforte
broccoli?
Thanks to……
Richard Mithen
Antonietta Melchini
Charlotte Armah
Shikha Saha
Tharsini Sivapalan
Omar Al
Kadhi
Richard
Ball
Robert
Mills
Professor Julie Lovegrove
Dr Christos Derdemezis