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Fresh cruciferous vegetables decrease risk of colon cancer in carcinogen‐treated rats
Author(s) -
Plate Andrea Yukie,
Gallaher Daniel David
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a150-c
Subject(s) - cruciferous vegetables , watercress , aberrant crypt foci , glucosinolate , carcinogen , food science , sulforaphane , colorectal cancer , apoptosis , biology , cancer , chemistry , biochemistry , medicine , botany , brassica , colonic disease
This study was designed to determine the effects of fresh cruciferous vegetables on development of pre‐neoplastic colonic lesions (aberrant crypt foci, ACF) in rats treated with the colon carcinogen dimethylhydrazine. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n=15), and fed diets containing one of the following: vegetable‐free (control), watercress, green cabbage, or broccoli. Diets were formulated by adding sufficient fresh vegetable to provide 95 mg of total glucosinolates per g of diet. Vegetables were chosen based on differences in the type of the major glucosinolate present. At the end of 16 weeks colons were removed and the distal colon was examined for ACF and mucin‐depleted foci number, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, all markers of colon cancer risk. ACF and mucin‐depleted foci number significantly decreased by 41% and 56%, respectively, in the broccoli group, 38.5% and 61% in the cabbage group, and 43% and 51% in the watercress group compared to the control. Large ACF number was significantly lower in the vegetable groups compared to the control. Apoptotic and cell proliferation labeling indices did not differ among groups. No significant differences were found in phase I and phase II enzymes, suggesting no effect on carcinogen metabolism. This study shows that fresh cruciferous vegetables reduce formation of ACF regardless of type of major glucosinolate present.