Vegetable Derivative May Inhibit Tumor Growth

Vegetable Derivative May Inhibit Tumor Growth

COLLEGE STATION, Texas--The same vegetables that may help preventcancer--broccoli, cabbage, turnips and mustard greens--may also inhibit tumorgrowth, according to Texas A&M University (www.tamu.edu).Researchers found a chemically altered form of diindolylmethane (DIM), a naturalcompound derived from certain vegetables, inhibited the growth of breast,pancreatic, colon, bladder and ovarian cancer cells. The compound also appearedto have minimal or no side effects. [I]n the mice trials it just stops tumorgrowth, said Steve Safe, D.Phil., chemist for the Texas AgriculturalExperimental Station; he and fellow researchers have patented the new use of DIMto treat cancer.