Benzyl isothiocyanate, and other isothiocyanates in general, were found to be protective against pancreatic carcinogenesis in vitro[3] via expression of the p21/WAF1 gene.[4] A recent published study showed its restraining impact on obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity mouse model.[5]
^Nakamura, Yoshimasa; Yoshimoto, Motoko; Murata, Yoshiyuki; Shimoishi, Yasuaki; Asai, Yumi; Park, Eun Young; Sato, Kenji; Nakamura, Yasushi (2007). "Papaya Seed Represents a Rich Source of Biologically Active Isothiocyanate". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (11): 4407–13. doi:10.1021/jf070159w. PMID17469845.
^Kuroiwa, Yuichi; Nishikawa, Akiyoshi; Kitamura, Yasuki; Kanki, Keita; Ishii, Yuji; Umemura, Takashi; Hirose, Masao (2006). "Protective effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and sulforaphane but not resveratrol against initiation of pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters". Cancer Letters. 241 (2): 275–80. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.10.028. PMID16386831.
^Moon, Sung-Kwon; Choi, Yung-Hyun; Kim, Cheorl-Ho; Choi, Won-Seok (2006). "P38MAPK mediates benzyl isothiocyanate-induced p21WAF1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells via the regulation of Sp1". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 350 (3): 662–8. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.09.092. PMID17026958.