In vivo biological activity of rocket extracts (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa (Miller) Thell) and sulforaphane

Eruca is thought to be an excellent source of antioxidants like phenolic compounds, carotenoids, glucosinolates and their degradation products, such as isothiocyanates. Sulforaphane is one of the most potent indirect antioxidants of Eruca isolated until the date. In this work we investigate: (i) the safety and DNA protective activity of Eruca extracts and sulforaphane (under and without oxidative stress) in Drosophila melanogaster; and (ii) the influence on D. melanogaster life span treated with Eruca extracts and sulforaphane. Our results showed that among the four concentrations of Eruca extracts tested (from 0.625 to 5 mg/ml), intermediate concentrations of the Es2 accession (1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml) exhibited no genotoxic activity, as well as antigenotoxic activity (inhibition rate of 0.2–0.6) and the lowest concentration of Es2 and Es4 accessions (0.625 mg/ml) also enhanced the health span portion of the live span curves. Sulforaphane presented a high antigenotoxic activity in the SMART test of D. melanogaster and intermediate concentrations of this compound (3.75 μM) enhanced average healthspan. The results of this study indicate the presence of potent antigenotoxic factors in rocket, which are being explored further for their mechanism of action.