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About Turnips – the Plant

A member of the brassica genus, the turnip is in the same classification as broccoli and Brussels sprouts.⁹ Originating in Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and the Near East, turnips are now commonly cultivated as vegetable and oil source the world over.¹⁸ Personally, I love roasting turnips along with beets and including them as part of a spring vegetable medley.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Health benefits of turnips are many, from a protective effect against cancers, to anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects. Glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, flavonoids, indoles and other nutrients in turnips contribute to the healing properties of this plant.¹⁸

Glucosinolates and isothiocyanate/anti-cancer properties

As far as glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, turnips contain 2-phenylethyl, 4-pentenyl, and 3-butenyl derivatives that drive the protection against cancer.¹⁸  Isothiocyanates can induce apoptosis (process by which the body rids itself of abnormal cells) in various cancer cell lines.^18,2

The 2-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate in turnip root has demonstrated a tendency to prevent the growth of human-derived hepatoma (liver tumor) cells.^10,18 This isothiocyanate is also a possible inhibitor of DNA oxidative damage and mutagens.¹⁸ Isiothiocyanates 2-phenylethyl and benzyl may reduce the formation of lung cancer caused by benzo(a) pyrene (a chemical emitted by certain substances when not burned completely).^{18, 5}

A study conducted on three cancer cell lines (Hep-2, AMN-3 and Hela) in vitro (in the lab, not the body)^18,14 found that the aqueous (in water)^3,18 extract of turnip showed significant inhibition against ANM-3 (63%) and Hep-2 (42%) cells at a concentration of 1250 μg/mL, and against Hela cells (64%) at a concentration of 10 mg/mL.¹⁸

Sulforaphane

Turnips are replete with sulforaphane, an incredible anti-aging compound that can prevent stress-induced inflammation from continuing to occur long-term in the body. Glucosinolates in turnips transform into sulforaphane when broken down during the chewing process. Some studies allude to the possibility of sulforaphane contained in turnips and other brassica vegetables combating leukemia. This phytochemical is also known for minimizing damage inflicted by UV exposure.⁹

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are present in turnips as glycosides (compounds containing a sugar where the hydroxyl group attached to the first carbon is substituted by an alcoholic, phenolic, or other group).^18,19 Kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin are the most common aglycones (non-carbohydrate compounds that result when the glycosyl group in a glycoside molecule is replaced by a hydrogen atom).^18,15 While present in multiple parts of the turnip, flavonoids were most prevalent in the turnip greens.¹⁸ Flavonoids play an important part in the protection against UV, pigmentation, stimulation of nitrogen-fixing nodules and disease resistance.¹⁸

Carbohydrates and Indoles

Carbohydrates in turnips have demonstrated many different functions.¹⁸ For instance, acting as enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors, which permanently deactivate an enzyme by bonding covalently to a particular group at the active site.^18,16 Another important role of carbs in turnips is inflammatory modulation, or regulation of the body’s inflammatory response to irritants.¹⁸ Regulation of the inflammatory response is important because some inflammation (redness, swelling, etc.) is a natural response to an irritant, excessive inflammatory response can be detrimental to one’s health.²⁰ Carbs in turnips also act as hepatoprotective agents, preventing damage to the liver, and potential therapeutic agents against HIV, diabetes, and cancers.¹⁸ Arvelexin, an indole derivative in turnip, has the potential effects of reducing inflammation (anti-inflammatory), lowering blood pressure (anti-hypertensive) and lessening the concentrations of lipoproteins, which transport cholesterol and triglycerides in blood (hypolipidemic).^18,17,1,12 

Fiber and Vitamins

Fiber in turnips helps keep you feeling full and has a detoxifying effect, plus these vegetables are high in vitamin C. Turnip greens also contain a significant amount of vitamin C, as well as vitamin A and calcium.⁹

Antioxidant

Without going into enormous detail, the antioxidant activity of various parts of the turnip plant were studied using the DPPH radical scavenging assay.¹⁸ This method uses a free radical with the ability to accept hydrogen from antioxidants to detect their activity.⁷ Turnip sprouts demonstrated greater DPPH free radical scavenging activity than did cauliflower or mustard sprouts.¹⁸ Interestingly, the flowers and leaves of the turnip plant were found to have the highest antioxidant activity.¹⁸

Antidiabetic

Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disorder marked by high levels of blood glucose. This condition can lead to damaging effects on multiple organs. Studies of turnip extract have revealed potential anti-diabetic effects such as the following:

• Improved glucose and lipid metabolism
• Lower levels of serum biomarkers (AST, ALT, and LDH)
• A reduction in harmful effects of free radicals
• Improved levels of antioxidant enzymes
• Better glucose and insulin tolerance¹⁸

Nephroprotective

Studies have also found turnips to have nephroprotective effects, or the effect of protecting the kidneys from damage. Cisplatin, a drug often used in cancer treatment, unfortunately is known to have harmful effects on the kidney. An analysis of turnip extract showed its potential to combat this harm by minimizing oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and the production of reactive oxygen species, as well as preventing glutathione depletion.¹⁸

I realize that last sentence is quite a mouthful, especially if you have not heard some of these terms before. So let’s break it down with some definitions.

Definitions

• lipid peroxidation – process under which oxidants such as free radicals attack lipids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). This can in turn be damaging to cells, tissues, and organs.⁴
• reactive oxygen species – a type of unstable molecule containing oxygen and that easily reacts with other cellular molecules, aka free radicals or oxygen radicals. An abundance of this type of molecule may result in damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and may cause cell death.²¹
• oxidative stress – A condition caused by an abundance of damaging free radicals in the body and an insufficient amount of antioxidants to eliminate them. This can be the result of poor diet, smoking, exposure to toxins, or a variety of other risk factors. Over time, this can leads to cell and tissue damage, aging, chronic inflammation, cancer, and other diseases.⁷
• glutathione – A tripeptide within the body’s tissue that is comprised of three amino acids (cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine). Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent, and reacts with free radicals to form harmless products.⁸

Reperfusion (reoxygenation) injury can cause heart attack and stroke when blood supply returns to the tissue following a period of ischemia or lack of oxygen. Studies suggest that turnip extract may have the effect of improving kidney function and minimizing the risk of reperfusion injury.¹⁸

Turnips as cruciferous vegetables

As noted in Dr. Mark Hyman’s Book The Ultramind Solution, turnips belong to the family of cruciferous vegetables, full of detoxifying compounds.¹¹ Cruciferous vegetables are from the Brassica genus of plants and are known for their detoxifying properties and other nutrients, such as the glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and indoles mentioned in this post.⁶

Recipes with Turnips

• Delicious Buckwheat Risotto Recipe with Spring Vegetables
• Mashed Turnips with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon

References

1. Anti-hypertensive agent – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/antihypertensive-agent
   
2. Apoptosis – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-b). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/apoptosis# 
   
3. Aqueous – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-c). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/aqueous 
   
4. Ayala, A., Muñoz, M. F., & Argüelles, S. (2014). Lipid peroxidation: Production, metabolism, and signaling mechanisms of malondialdehyde and 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4066722/ 
   
5. benzo(a)pyrene – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-b). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/benzoapyrene 
   
6. Cruciferous vegetables and cancer prevention. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-f). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/cruciferous-vegetables-fact-sheet#what-are-cruciferous-vegetables 
   
7. DPPH. DPPH – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/dpph#:~:text=1%2C1%2Ddiphenyl%2D2,or%20any%20other%20biological%20substrates. 
   
8. Glutathione – NCI Drug Dictionary. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-a). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/glutathione 
   
9. Hart, Jolene, CHC, AADP.  Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out.  San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC.
   
10. Hepatoma – NCI search results. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-b). https://www.cancer.gov/search/results?swKeyword=hepatoma 
    
11. Hyman, Mark.  The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First.  London: Simon & Schuster, 2010.
    
12. Hypolipidemic agent. Hypolipidemic Agent – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/hypolipidemic-agent 
    
13. Ilyas, U., Katare, D. P., Aeri, V., & Naseef, P. P. (2016). A review on hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory herbal plants. Pharmacognosy reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791991/#:~:text=A%20drug%20having%20helpful%20results,liver%20are%20called%20hepatotoxic%20drugs 
    
14. in vitro – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-c). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/in-vitro
    
15. Libretexts. (2022, February 28). Aglycone. Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Reference/Organic_Chemistry_Glossary/Aglycone  
    
16. Libretexts. (2021, August 6). 8.7: Enzyme inhibition. Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Georgia_Southern_University/CHEM_1152%3A_Survey_of_Chemistry_II_(GSU_-_Dr._Osborne)/08%3A_Proteins/8.07%3A_Enzyme_Inhibition 
    
17. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Anti-inflammatory definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-inflammatory 
    
18. Paul, S., Geng, C., Yang, T., Yang, Y., & Chen, J. (2018). Phytochemical and health‐beneficial progress of turnip (brassica rapa). Journal of Food Science, 84(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.14417 
    https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1750-3841.14417
    
19. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Glycosides. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?Db=mesh&Cmd=DetailsSearch&Term=%22Glycosides%22%5BMeSH%2BTerms%5D 
    
20. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018, February 22). What is an inflammation?. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/ 
    
21. Reactive oxygen species – NCI Dictionary of Cancer terms. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-h). https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/reactive-oxygen-species