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A chemical
produced when digesting such greens as broccoli and cauliflower
can stifle the growth of human prostate cancer cells, according
to researchers at the University of California - Berkeley.
The researchers
said that 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), which is obtained by
eating cruciferous vegetables in the Brassica genus, acts
as a powerful anti-androgen that inhibits the proliferation
of human prostate cancer cells in culture tests.
Androgens
are important male hormones, but the androgen dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) can stimulate the expression of prostate specific antigen
(PSA), which acts as a growth factor for prostate cancer.
In their
study, the researchers found that DIM inhibits the actions
of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Androgen-dependent cancer cells
treated with a solution of DIM grew 70 percent less than the
same type of cancer cells left untreated and researchers found
a drop in the level of PSA.
"As
far as we know, this is the first plant-derived chemical discovered
that acts as an anti-androgen," said Leonard Bjeldanes,
chair of nutritional sciences and toxicology. "This is
of considerable interest in the development of therapeutics
and preventive agents for prostate cancer."
Vegetables
such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and cauliflower are
rich sources of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which the body converts
into DIM during digestion.
Source:
Prostate Cancer
Week of May 18, 2003
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