Not everyone's favorite, however the modest leafy cabbage and brussels sprouts could just be the ingredients required to help destroy breast cancer cells.
Although previous researches have been suggesting a link between eating leafy vegetables and possible prevention of breast cancer, scientists have now identified the chemical present in these green leafy vegetables, which has the capability to help fight against breast cancer cells and help to block their growth.
British scientists have identified a naturally occurring compound, indole-3-carbinol, found in the cruciferous vegetables, belonging to the mustard family, such as cabbage, Brussels sprout, cauliflower and broccoli which can prove to be very effective in the fight against cancer.
The medicinal qualities of indole-3-carbinol, commonly known as I3C, have been found to destroy cancer cells when used in combination with chemotherapy. In the experiments the British scientists, fed daily doses of about 300 mg to 400 mg to cancer cells in the laboratory. By causing alterations in the molecules in three of the cancer cell types and enhancing their reaction to anti cancer cells, the compound when used in conjunction with chemotherapy proved effective in destroying the tumour cells.
Though the research is still in early stages, researchers are optimistic that this compound can play a key role in improving cancer treatments and hope to use it in treatment of cancer patients soon. By adding the cabbage compound to chemotherapy treatment, the researchers hope that they can lower the dosage of drugs and still have the same effect.
This research is a part of growing evidence about molecules in food which have the potential to fight against life threatening and chronic diseases when used in concentrated forms, as supplements to traditional anti- cancer treatments, medicines as well as radiation therapies.
The study also supports the growing evidence that a balanced and healthy diet can be a very important factor in altering our vulnerability towards cancer and possibly even increasing our chances of survival from it.
