Eating vegetables is good for health, and certain ones protect against cancer development. These include cruciferous plants like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, savoy cabbage, and brussels sprouts, whose beneficial properties have already been previously studied. A new study analyzed how the reason why broccoli has protective properties against cancer is due to the presence of a molecule that is capable of turning off the gene involved in cancer onset. The study was carried out at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, and published in May 2019 in the journal “Science”.
ANTI-CANCER ENZYME IDENTIFIED
This “magical” molecule is indoble-3 carbon (I3C). This natural substance can activate PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene that guards and protects cells against the WWP1 oncogene, an enzyme that can cause the onset of tumors wh. Ten in abundance. The researchers carried out the investigation in the laboratory using samples of human cells and mice models. Through biochemical analysis and computer simulations, they were able to identify the various molecules involved in the process. In particular, they observed how the I3C molecule found in crucifers is capable of turning on control systems against the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, such as the onco-suppressor PTEN.
The researchers managed to activate PTEN (“cell guardian”) by blocking WWP1 (“bad switch” that keeps PTEN turned off) specifically due to the I3C present in broccoli. This led to a size and weight reduction of the tumor. The study mainly focused on prostate cancer, but experts believe that the approach would show similar effects against other types of cancer, such as breast and liver cancer, where the WWP1 oncogene is very abundant.
FUTURE REASEARCH
The amount of broccoli that would be required to see these effects is 7 kg, but the study laid the foundation for new clinical trials that can look into developing the compound in its pure form at the pharmacological level. The molecules found in plants can serve as preventive methods in the fight against cancer.
