Plant sulfur compounds and human health

The contribution of sulfur to plant growth, the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds by plants, and the consumption of plant foodstuffs by humans ultimately affect human health. This chapter provides an overview of the nutritional requirements and dietary sources of the sulfur amino acids, methionine and cysteine, for the human body. Multiple diseases and disorders have components associated with sulfur amino acid metabolism. In addition, the allyl sulfur compounds and the isothiocyanates in plants are a rich source of chemically diverse molecules with potential therapeutic activities, including cancer preventative effects.