LVPEI study finds natural compounds in broccoli may protect against eye disease
Researchers at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and NYU Grossman School of Medicine have discovered that sulforaphane, a compound in broccoli, can activate the NRF2 defence pathway to counter keratoconus-related corneal damage. The breakthrough points to potential non-invasive therapies like sulforaphane eye drops, offering hope for early diagnosis and treatment.
Hyderabad: A natural compound, Sulforaphane, found in abundance in broccoli could hold the key to treating Keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder that weakens, thins, and distorts the cornea, according to a landmark study by researchers from Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in collaboration with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (May, 2026), the research reveals that Keratoconus is closely linked to a breakdown in NRF2, the body’s primary cellular defense pathway against oxidative stress. When the natural defense fails, corneal stromal cells suffer damage and die, leading to progressive vision loss.
To counter the cellular damage, researchers turned to Sulforaphane, a potent dietary compound produced when cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and broccoli sprouts, often referred to as a superfood due to its nutritional value, are chewed or crushed.
In laboratory experiments, treating damaged corneal cells with sulforaphane successfully activated the NRF2 defense system. The compound lowered oxidative stress, prevented cell death, and restored the production of collagen essential for maintaining corneal shape and strength, the LVPEI-NYU researchers in their study said.
While broccoli is widely recognized for its health advantages, including activating internal antioxidant networks, researchers clarify that simply eating more cooked broccoli is unlikely to treat the condition. Cooking heat deactivates the enzyme needed to generate sulforaphane, and dietary intake delivers minimal concentration directly to the eye tissue, researchers believe.
Instead, the study added that the real breakthrough lies in drug development, as the discovery paves the way for non-invasive, targeted therapies, such as specialized sulforaphane (from broccoli) eye drops. Combined with tear-based biomarkers identified in the study, research offers fresh hope for early diagnosis and non-surgical treatments for progressive corneal diseases, they added.
