Glucosinolate-rich broccoli microgreen extract promotes osteogenic differentiation and antioxidant responses in human stromal cells: implications for nutraceutical modulation of bone metabolism

Over recent decades, interest in functional foods capable of mitigating age-related disorders and chronic inflammation-associated diseases has markedly increased. Among these, dietary organosulfur compounds, abundantly present in various vegetables, are recognized for their potential preventive effects against multiple pathological conditions. Isothiocyanates and glucosinolates (GLS) derived from Brassicaceae species, most notably sulforaphane and its precursor glucoraphanin, have demonstrated promising potential as adjunctive agents in the management of osteoporosis. Broccoli microgreens are especially rich in GLS; however, their potential application in osteoporosis prevention remains to be conclusively established. The present study sought to evaluate the bioactivity of a GLS-rich methanolic extract derived from broccoli microgreens cultivated under a vertical hydroponic system. Human adipose-derived stromal cells were used as in vitro model. Cellular viability was assessed through lactate dehydrogenase, Alamar blue, and neutral red uptake assays; expression of antioxidant genes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Osteogenic differentiation was investigated via Alizarin Red staining, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, and real-time PCR for osteogenic genes. Our findings indicate that broccoli microgreen extract did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity up to 100 µM, exerted stimulatory effects on osteogenesis at 50 and 100 µM, while promoting antioxidant effect. Collectively, these in vitro data provide evidence that broccoli microgreen extract, characterized by high GLS content, exhibits anabolic and antioxidant activity in hADSCs, thereby supporting its potential application in future preclinical in vivo investigation and clinical trials targeting osteoporosis. Furthermore, the results highlight the feasibility of vertical hydroponic cultivation as a sustainable method for producing bioactive broccoli microgreen extract.