Glucoraphanin is a naturally occurring compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. It is a precursor to sulforaphane, a compound with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The rationale for exploring glucoraphanin in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is based on preclinical studies indicating that sulforaphane can activate the Nrf2 pathway, which enhances cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress—a key factor in PD pathogenesis. Animal studies have shown that sulforaphane administration can mitigate dopaminergic neuron loss and improve behavioral deficits in models of Parkinson’s Disease. However, direct human clinical trials investigating glucoraphanin or sulforaphane supplementation in PD patients are limited and mostly preliminary.

While there is promising mechanistic and preclinical evidence, and a few small-scale human studies suggest potential benefit, the overall scientific validation remains modest. No large, high-quality randomized controlled trials have confirmed a clear therapeutic effect of glucoraphanin or its metabolites in Parkinson’s Disease thus far. Therefore, while the use is grounded in scientific rationale rather than tradition, the evidence base is still insufficient for strong clinical recommendations.