Research: Broccoli May Help Prevent Neck and Head Cancer

A team of US researchers is planning to conduct a human clinical trial to test the potency of the broccoli sprout extract to fight oral cancer, including neck and head cancer. The decision came soon after the trial conducted on mice and a small human population showed positive results.

The researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) discovered that injecting sulforaphane in mice that were predisposed to oral cancer, significantly. reduced the occurrence of tumours. Sulforaphane is a molecule found in crops, such as kale, broccoli, garden cress, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

“The clear benefit of sulforaphane in preventing oral cancer in mice raises hope that this well-tolerated compound also may act to prevent oral cancer in humans who face chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and carcinogens,” said the lead researcher Dr. Daniel E. Johnson, reported FreshFruitPortal.com.

During the preliminary study, the researchers used the sulforaphane molecule extracted from broccoli sprouts and injected it into mice. They found that the extract reduced the likelihood of developing an oral cancer in mice, as compared to the untreated group of mice.

In addition, the researchers noted the effect of sulforaphane extract on 10 healthy human volunteers in a controlled testing environment. The researchers found that the natural sulforaphane was totally safe for consumption, with no major side effects. The promising outcome of the study has inspired the researchers to plan for human clinical trial on a group of 40 volunteers at high risk of oral cancer by the end of 2015, reported Nature World News.

The researchers presented the preliminary study findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, which happened in Philadelphia.

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