title: Research on cruciferous vegetables, indole-3-carbinol, and cancer prevention: A tribute to Lee W. Wattenberg.
abstract: Lee W. Wattenberg, who spent his entire career at the University of Minnesota, was a true pioneer in the field of chemoprevention. This paper is a tribute to his groundbreaking research which uncovered the cancer prevention properties of many dietary compounds, including those discussed here in some detail-indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane. These compounds occur as glucosinolate conjugates in cruciferous vegetables and are released when one chews or otherwise macerates the vegetable. They have numerous beneficial effects including the ability to prevent cancer in laboratory animals treated with carcinogens. We review some of the early work on indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane which spurred subsequent studies on their efficacy and molecular mechanisms of prevention. We also present unique data on field conditions that affect levels of their glucosinolate precursors in vegetables and on the release of diindolylmethane in people who consume cruciferous vegetables.
authors: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Fujioka
authors: Southern Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Fritz
authors: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Pramod
authors: P
authors: Upadhyaya
authors: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Fekadu
authors: F
authors: Kassie
authors: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Stephen S
authors: SS
authors: Hecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000633:toxicity; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D005961:Glucosinolates; D007211:Indoles; D009602:Nitrosamines; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; C016583:4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone; C016517:indole-3-carbinol; C048308:glucobrassicin; C016392:3,3'-diindolylmethane
keywords: Chemoprevention; Cruciferous vegetables; Diindolylmethane; Glucobrassican; Indole-3-carbinol