Description
S-(N-Phenylbutylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine (PBITC) is a conjugate of phenylbutylisothiocyanate and cysteine. Isothiocyanates are typically found in plants of the Brassicaceae family, including broccoli, cabbage, and radish. Isothiocyanates are best known for their antioxidative, anticancer chemotherapeutic, chemopreventive, anti-angiogenic, and antibiotic properties. In vitro, PBITC increases caspase 3 activity and cleavage of poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP), inducing caspase-mediated apoptosis. PBITC also inhibits development of pancreatic ductal dysplasias and adenocarcinomas and decreases occurrence of lung tumors in animal models. This compound decreases oxidation of carcinogen NNK and increases activity of NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione-S-transferase in vitro and in vivo.