Broccoli lines differ in potential anticarcinogenic activity.In a ground-breaking study, USDA/ARS scientists have screened in-bred lines of broccoli to see if they induce activity of a key enzyme in mammals that may protect against certain cancers. Plant geneticist A plant geneticist is a scientist involved with the study of genetics in botany. Typical work is done with genes in order to isolate and then develop certain plant traits. Once a certain trait, such as plant height, fruit sweetness, or tolerance to cold, is found, a plant Mark W. Farnham (U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, 2875 Savannah Savannah, city, United States Savannah, city (1990 pop. 137,560), seat of Chatham co., SE Ga., a port of entry on the Savannah River near its mouth; inc. 1789. Highway, Charleston, SC 29414) worked with scientists in the Brassica brassica Any plant of the large genus Brassica, in the mustard family, containing about 40 Old World species and including the cabbages, mustards, and rapes. B. oleracea has many edible varieties, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi. Chemoprotection Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD). The scientists evaluated a diverse collection of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) lines for the food's ability to stimulate a mammalian detoxification Detoxification Definition Detoxification is one of the more widely used treatments and concepts in alternative medicine. It is based on the principle that illnesses can be caused by the accumulation of toxic substances (toxins) in the body. enzyme that helps protect mammals against the development of cancer. In 1996 and 1997, scientists grew 71 USDA USDA, n.pr See United States Department of Agriculture. broccoli in-bred lines and five commercial hybrids in the field, and then took extracts from each one. In these extracts, the scientists looked for a chemoprotective compound called glucoraphanin. A derivative of glucoraphanin spurs mammals to induce the activity of detoxification enzymes. The scientists found a 30-fold variation in glucoraphanin and the activity of these enzymes among the broccoli tested. In the future, scientists could use the enzyme activity Enzyme activity A measure of the ability of an enzyme to catalyze a specific reaction. Mentioned in: Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency to gauge a broccoli in-bred line's anti-cancer potential. Data from several previously published studies have shown that people who eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, have a lower incidence of colon and rectal cancers. Occurring in two out of 1000 people, these account for 15% of all cancer deaths. Broccoli florets and young seedlings are rich sources of glucoraphanin and its breakdown product, sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is a potent inducer inducer /in·duc·er/ (in-dldbomacs´er) a molecule that causes a cell or organism to accelerate synthesis of an enzyme or sequence of enzymes in response to a developmental signal. in·duc·er n. of mammalian detoxification enzyme activity and inhibits early tumor growth in rodent models. Scientists know little about variations of glucoraphanin and sulforaphane in broccoli. If genetic variation among varieties does exist, then breeders could exploit this variation to develop new varieties with greater levels of the protective compounds. Eating such improved broccoli might stimulate an enhanced chemoprotective response against cancer. Further information. Mark Farnham; phone: 843-556-0840; fax: 843-763-7013; email: mfarnham@awod.com. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion