Narrative review: The multifaceted benefits of wasabi herbal supplements: Enhancing immune function, cognitive performance, and physical endurance

This narrative review explores the multifaceted pharmacological benefits of wasabi herbal supplements, particularly due to their high isothiocyanate content, most notably 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC). We systematically examine wasabi's potential to: (1) modulate immune function through NF-κB and AP-1 pathway inhibition, reducing inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2, IL-6); (2) enhance cognitive performance via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant protection and HPA axis regulation; and (3) improve physical endurance by mitigating exercise-induced oxidative stress. Beyond these core benefits, we highlight wasabi's anti-obesity effects (via lipid metabolism regulation), cardiovascular protection (through endothelial Nrf2/HO-1 activation), and epigenetic influence on sex determination genes (CYP19a1a, dmrt1) in aquatic models. These findings position wasabi supplements as versatile therapeutic agents bridging traditional medicine and evidence-based applications in metabolic health, and neuroprotection. The review advances current understanding by integrating molecular mechanisms with translational applications, while highlighting remaining research gaps in dosage optimization and long-term efficacy assessment.