Inhibition of nitric oxide production corresponds to the sulforaphane content in Korean sheperd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and related species in BV-2 cell

The sulforaphane content of various edible plants, as well as the bioactivity of this compound, has been researched extensively in recent times. The purpose of this study was to examine the sulforaphane content in Korean shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris L. Medik) and related species and its anti-inflammatory effects. The sulforaphane contents in seeds from 8 different species closely related to Korean shepherd's purse species were analyzed by LC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The highest concentration of sulforaphane (70.0 +/- 2.1 mu g/g) was found in American yellowrocket (Barbarea orthoceras), while the lowest (22.8 +/- 4.7 mu g/g) was found in jobsalnaengi (Cardamine flexuosa var. fallax). The extracts from the American yellowrocket and wavy bittercress (Cardamine flexuosa) species, which were found to contain high sulforaphane concentrations, reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in BV-2 microglial cells. These results suggest that Korean Brassicaceae species exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in BV-2 microglial cells, and that this might have potential preventative for various neurodegenerative diseases.