Sulforaphene identified from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds possesses antimicrobial properties against multidrug-resistant bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

•A purification method of the sulforaphene (SFE) from radish seeds was optimised using preparative-LC.•SFE shows the highest antimicrobial property against multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori 212 strain.•SFE displays strong growth inhibition against MRSA, but not MSSA. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are natural products produced by the hydrolysis of glucosinolates in Brassica vegetables. ITCs, such as sulforaphane (SFA), inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and bacterial growth. Sulforaphene (SFE), one of the major ITCs in radish seeds, is chemically similar to SFA, but its antimicrobial properties have not been studied. Here, we optimised and improved SFE extraction method using preparative liquid chromatography, and demonstrated that SFE possesses broad antimicrobial activity. Strong bactericidal activity was exhibited by SFE against all strains of Helicobacter pylori. SFE specifically exhibited a strong effect against the multidrug-resistant H. pylori strain 212 with a MIC90 (0.6 µg/mL). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was also susceptible to SFE treatment, with MIC90 values of 12.5–25.0 µg/mL, but not methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. This observation gives new insight into the potential of SFE as a medicinal resource in foods and has implications in the development of new functional antimicrobial agents.