Indolymethyl glucosinolate converts into indole 3 carbinol (I3C) that can boost either phase 1 (activation) or phase 2 (detoxification) enzymes, depending on the metabolic pathway it takes, and therefore can either activate or deactivate or carcinogens.  Sulforaphane glucosinolate, when converted into sulforaphane, boosts phase 2 enzymes that deactivate free radicals.

There is quite a bit of literature on the anti-cancer effects of I3C, but it is mixed in its results. Depending upon whether a cancer is in its incipient phase, it can either help or hurt.

Our products contain only SGS which we know is a mono-functional inducer – can only induce phase 2 detoxification enzymes, whereas I3C is a bi-functional inducer and, as noted above, can boost both types, depending upon the clinical situation.

On our sister website, www.brassica.com, we go into the phase 1 and phase 2 enzyme issue a little deeper.