Broccoli Sprouts Ward off Skin Tumors

BALTIMOREFeeding hairless mice broccoli sprouts extracts inhibited skin tumor growth after 13 weeks, according to a recent study (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 2010;9:597-600). SKH-1 hairless mice were chronically exposed to UV radiation twice a week for 17 weeks prior to receiving 10 mol/d of of glucoraphanin from broccoli sprout extracts. The active plant chemical in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, is glucoraphanin, which metabolizes in the body and acts as an anti-carcinogenic agent. After 13 weeks of receiving the extract, the development of skin tumors were inhibited; and compared to the controls, tumor incidence, multiplicity and volume were reduced by 25, 47 and 70 percent, respectively, in the animals that received the protective agent.