Lipid Metabolism Regulation by Allyl Isothiocyanate Found Commonly in Cruciferous Vegetables

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is well-known as the pungent taste of cruciferous vegetables like mustard, wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and radish. Sato et al. have investigated the physiological activity of AITC on lipid homeostasis in a cell line. Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), which are involved in lipid homeostasis regulation, control the expression of genes relevant to fatty acids and cholesterol synthesis. It is revealed that AITC reduces the promoter activity of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene, and also suppresses the proteolytic processing (activation) of SREBPs. Therefore, the anti-obesity effect of AITC seems to be attributed to its lipid metabolism regulation by suppressing the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.