Quick assessment of sulfarophane and more

Koppert Cress and Qfood have developed a test that can rapidly measure the levels of beneficial substances in fruit and vegetables. The new test, called Lumos, can determine a substance level in fifteen minutes. By comparison, results from a laboratory usually take ten to fifteen days.

The test was initially designed to measure sulforaphane levels in BroccoCress, a sprout in the Brassica family. Sulforaphane is an antioxidant that has a positive effect on ulcers. Its potentially anticarcinogenic properties are currently being evaluated. Two BroccoCress sprouts contain the same amount of sulforaphane as 100 grams of raw broccoli, 200 grams of stir-fried broccoli, or 300 grams of cooked broccoli. The new test would enable growers to put the verified sulforaphane content on their product label.

Koppert Cress launched a Dutch website www.sulforahane.nl that provides all currently available knowledge on this substance. The test can also measure other beneficial substances, such as lycopene in tomatoes and carotene in carrots.