Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Brassica rapa: a review

Brassica rapa is one of the key Brassica species and used against different types of cancer The different sub species of B rapa including Pak choi Chinese cabbage Sylvestris Rapa and other vegetable types have both anticancer and antioxidant properties Its various plant parts like root leaves fruit and seeds are full of some important anticancer and anitoxidant compounds including glucosinolates carotenoids flavonoids ketones aldehydes vitamin C selenium etc are used against numerous types of cancer cell lines However the antioxidant and anticancer activity of B rapa vary with type of genotype changing dose concentration and associated time interval type of solvent used for extraction method of extraction part of the plant used type of cancer and cell line gene expression of different transcription factors involved and other biotic or abiotic factors The present review focuses on the antioxidant and anticancer activities of different Brassica genotypes In addition the anti mutagenic potentials of different B rapa genotypes against various types of cancer cell lines have been discussed However further research is needed to identify and characterize useful bioactive compounds from diverse B rapa sub species or ecotypes against other lethal cancer types