Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease that gets progressively worse over time. Inflammation has a central role in driving COPD. However, patients derive little benefit from treatment with potent anti-inflammatory drugs known as corticosteroids. Now, researchers have identified a candidate therapeutic that could potentially be used to augment the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids in individuals with COPD — a compound obtained from cruciferous vegetables.