Research on the Role of Sprouts in Wellness and Disease Prevention Eating sprouts can make you healthier, and the research is promising in a number of areas. Indeed, the research below is so encouraging that it may change the way you view sprouts. There is research to indicate that a single ingestion of 2.5 ounces of broccoli sprouts inhibited prostrate cancer three to six hours after consumption, and that a single serving of broccoli sprouts inhibits HDAC activity in human colon, prostate, and breast cancer cells.  There is also evidence to  suggest that two ounces a day of broccoli or other crucifer sprouts may eradicate H pylori infection, which causes ulcers, in seven days. Sounds unbelievable? Check out the independent research, mostly published in peer reviewed scientific journals around the world. Sprouts and Acne - The connection between sprouts and acne has been extensively researched. For your convenience, we've collected a series of research articles on the topic. Sprouts and Aging - For more information about the link between sprouts and aging, see our collection

Fluorescent Enzyme Immunoassay for Salmonella Detection A fluorescent enzyme immunoassay for Salmonella detection. J Immunoassay 1988;9(1):83-95 Aleixo JA, Swaminathan B. Purdue University, Department of Foods & Nutrition, West Lafayette, IN 47907. A double antibody sandwich immunoassay (EIA) was developed for the detection of Salmonella. The assay utilizes a beta-galactosidase-murine myeloma monoclonal antibody (M467) conjugate prepared with the heterobifunctional coupling reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP) and uses 4-methyl umbelliferyl beta-D-galactoside as a fluorogenic substrate for the enzyme. The EIA is sensitive and rapid, and compared favorably with the conventional cultural technique in the analysis of 60 feed samples naturally contaminated with Salmonella. Proteins or natural contaminants from the sample did not interfere in the assay.

Sulforaphane Targets Pancreatic Tumour Sulforaphane targets pancreatic tumour-initiating cells by NF-kappaB-induced antiapoptotic signalling. Gut. 2009 Jul;58(7):949-63. Epub 2008 Oct 1. Kallifatidis G, Rausch V, Baumann B, Apel A, Beckermann BM, Groth A, Mattern J, Li Z, Kolb A, Moldenhauer G, Altevogt P, Wirth T, Werner J, Schemmer P, Büchler MW, Salnikov AV, Herr I. Molecular OncoSurgery Group, University of Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emerging evidence suggests that highly treatment-resistant tumour-initiating cells (TICs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is considered to be a novel anticancer agent; however, recent studies have shown that many pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL due to TRAIL-activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signalling. Several chemopreventive agents are able to inhibit NF-kappaB, and favourable results have been obtained--for example, for the broccoli compound sulforaphane-in preventing metastasis in clinical studies. The aim of the study was to identify TICs in pancreatic carcinoma for analysis of resistance mechanisms and for definition

Food Irradiation and Chlorine Team Up to Kill Ecoli FoodIrradiation and Chlorine Team Up to Kill E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella By Doris Stanley Lowe June 1, 1999 Treatingalfalfa seeds and sprouts with a combination of irradiation and chlorineeffectively safeguards them against contamination by E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella,Agricultural Research Service scientistsreport. ARSscientists Donald W. Thayer, Kathleen T. Rajkowski and William F. Fett foundthat a treatment of irradiation and chlorine solution not only killed bothorganisms, but extended the shelf life of sprouts from aboutfive days to more than a week. They conducted the lab studies at the ARS EasternRegional Research Center's Food Safety and PlantScience and Technology Research Units in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. Theresearch is part of the effort by a task force of representatives from severalFederal Government agencies and industry to find ways to control microbialcontamination of sprouts . Thefinding is good news for sprout growers. Since 1995, raw alfalfa sprouts havebeen recognized as a source of foodborne illness in the United States, withseveral outbreaks of both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. FDA andthe Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhave advised

Feeding Tomato and Broccoli Powders Enriched with Bioactives Improves Bioactivity Markers in Rats Feeding Tomato and Broccoli Powders Enriched with Bioactives Improves Bioactivity Markers in Rats J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Aug 3. Liu AG, Volker SE, Jeffery EH, Erdman JW. Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801.   Many studies have evaluated the cancer -preventive potential of individual bioactives from tomatoes and broccoli, but few have examined them within the context of a whole food. Male Copenhagen rats were fed diets containing 10% standard tomato powder, tomato enriched with lycopene or total carotenoids, standard broccoli floret, broccoli sprouts, or broccoli enriched with indole glucosinolates or selenium for 7 days. All broccoli diets increased the activity of colon quinone reductase (NQO1). Indole glucosinolate-enriched broccoli and selenium-enriched broccoli increased hepatic NQO1 and cytochrome P450 1A activity (P < 0.05). Standard broccoli and lycopene-enriched tomato diets down-regulated prostatic glutathione S-transferase P1 mRNA expression. Different tomato diets

Cynarin Cynarin-Rich Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Sprouts Possess Both Antiglycative and Antioxidant Activities. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Mar 28;60(12):3260-5. Sun Z, Chen J, Ma J, Jiang Y, Wang M, Ren G, Chen F. Institute for Food and Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.   Abstract The present study examined the antiglycative and antioxidant properties of four edible sprouts popular in Chinese markets. In a protein-reducing sugar model, the sunflower sprout Helianthus annuus exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects against the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). At a concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, its inhibitory rate achieved 83.29%, which is stronger than that of aminoguanidine (1 mM), a well-known synthetic antiglycative agent (with an inhibitory rate of 80.88%). The antioxidant capacity of H. annuus was also much stronger than other sprout samples in terms of free radical scavenging and reducing properties. An active ingredient contributing to the observed activities was identified as cynarin (1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). This is the first report of the novel

Pathogens - Parasites Sprout Safety Research Over the years, our team has collected important safety research pertaining to pathogens, parasites and sprouts into a single location. "Factors affecting recovery efficiency in isolation of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts from vegetables for standard method development.", J Food Prot 2001 Nov;64(11):1799-805 Robertson LJ, Gjerde B., Department of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Food Hygiene, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo. "Isolation and Enumeration of Giardia Cysts, Cryptosporidium Oocysts, and Ascaris Eggs from Fruits and Vegetables", June 2000, Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 63, No. 6, pp. 775­778.,  L. J. Robertson And B. Gjerde "Microbiological analysis of seed sprouts in Norway.", Int J Food Microbiol 2002 May 5;75(1-2):119-26 Robertson LJ, Johannessen GS, Gjerde BK, Loncarevi S., Department of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Food Hygiene, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo. "Occurrence of parasites on fruits and vegetables in Norway.", Journal of Food Protection, Vol, 64, No. 11, 2001, Pages 1793-1798, obertson LJ, Gjerde B. Department of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Food Hygiene, The Norwegian School

Inactivation of Escherichia Coli O157 On Inoculated Alfalfa Seeds with Pulsed Ultraviolet Light and Response Surface Modeling Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Inoculated Alfalfa Seeds with Pulsed Ultraviolet Light and Response Surface Modeling R.R. Sharma and A. Demirci J. of Food Sci., Vol. 68, No. 4, 2003 ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli O157:H7-inoculated alfalfa seeds with seed layer thicknesses of 1.02 to 6.25 mm were subjected to pulsed UV light for up to 90 s at a 8-cm distance from the UV strobe. Population reductions higher than 4 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/g were achieved. For effect of distance from the UV strobe, seeds with 6.25-mm layer thickness were treated 3 to 13 cm from the strobe. Reductions at shorter distances, such as 60 s at 5 cm (1.93 log10 CFU/g) and 60 to 90 s at 8 cm (4.89 log10 CFU/g), were significantly higher (P # 0.05). Data from the treatments were used to develop empirical models as a function of distance or layer thickness and treatment time for predicting the population ofE. coli O157:H7 during pulsed UV-light

Inactivation of Salmonella and Escherichia Coli O157 Inactivation of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on artificially contaminated alfalfa seeds using high hydrostatic pressure. Food Microbiol. 2010 May;27(3):332-8. Epub 2009 Nov 13. Neetoo H,Chen H. Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2150, USA.   Abstract Alfalfa sprouts contaminated with Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 have been implicated in several outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in recent years. The seed used for sprouting appears to be the primary source of pathogens. Seed decontamination prior to sprouting presents a unique challenge for the sprouting industry since cells of the pathogenic survivors although undetectable after sanitizing treatments, can potentially multiply back to hazardous levels. The focus of this study was to therefore test the efficacy of high hydrostatic pressure to eliminate a approximately 5 log CFU/g load of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on alfalfa seeds. Pressure treatment of 600 MPa for up to 25 min at 20 degrees C could not result in complete inactivation of Salmonella. High-pressure treatment