Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 26, 2004
Heather Halpape
Peter Webb Public Relations
303-796-8888

ORLANDO, Fla. - The disease-preventing power of broccoli is high on the agenda of scientists converging here for the American Association for Cancer Research 95th annual meeting March 27 - 31. At least eight papers slated for the meeting further illuminate the cancer-protective properties of broccoli and broccoli sprouts, which are packed with sulforaphane and its natural precursor, glucoraphanin (SGS™).

The new discoveries bolster the more than 25 years of research into dietary protection against cancer by Paul Talalay, M.D. who will deliver the 9th annual DeWitt S. Goodman Memorial Lecture entitled, "Protection against Cancer: Plants, Genes and Enzymes." Professor Talalay and his research team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine made the groundbreaking findings of the cancer-protective properties of sulforaphane as present in large quantities in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables in 1992.

"These studies further support the conclusions of numerous Johns Hopkins University studies on broccoli and broccoli sprouts, which include the cancer-fighting antioxidant, sulforaphane and its precursor SGS," says Dr. Paul Talalay. "These researchers have made discoveries pertaining to numerous cancers, including prostate cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer."

Dr. William G. Nelson, also of Johns Hopkins and associated with both the Oncology Center and the Department of Urology, reports that water extracts of broccoli sprouts are uniquely effective in boosting detoxification enzymes in the prostate glands of rats. These enzymes protect against cancer-causing chemicals because of their antitoxic and antioxidant properties. Nelson's work suggests that these active ingredients in broccoli sprouts warrant evaluation in humans at high risk for prostate cancer.

Also looking into prostate cancer, research from Dr. Shivendra V. Singh and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute indicates that the growth of human prostate cancer cells, transplanted to mice that lack the immune systems to reject them, could be suppressed by giving the animals sulforaphane. The team's present work explains the detailed molecular mechanisms involved in the programmed cell death (technically known as "apoptosis") of these cells, and just how sulforaphane kills cancer cells.

Focusing on colon cancer, a study from the Institute for Food Research in Norwich, United Kingdom, authored by Dr. Richard Mithen, describes how sulforaphane stimulates colon cancer cells to raise the activities of genes that block the growth cycle and cause their death. Indeed, this work suggests that sulforaphane may not only be important in suppressing cell growth, but may even reverse the carcinogenic process toward a more normal state by promoting cell differentiation.

Professor Renato Iori in Milan, Italy, found that when human ovarian cancer cell lines that were resistant to conventional forms of chemotherapy were exposed to activated precursors of sulforaphane, they then became again susceptible to chemotherapy. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon is not entirely clear, the restoration of susceptibility to drug treatment of cells that had become resistant to chemotherapy is an exciting prospect with practical potential.

These new studies reaffirm the extensive research already supporting Johns Hopkins University researchers' discovery of the potential potent health benefits of broccoli sprouts, which have 20 times higher concentration of the cancer-fighting SGS / sulforaphane than adult broccoli. These broccoli sprouts with guaranteed levels of SGS, designated BroccoSprouts, are available nationwide in supermarket produce sections.

Don't like the taste of broccoli or want to supplement your intake of Brassica vegetables? Brassica Tea also is developed with antioxidant extracts from the same source as BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts. One cup of Brassica Tea packs the same SGS punch as a full serving of broccoli- without broccoli's taste. Also available at grocers nationwide or online at www.brassicatea.com, Brassica Tea tastes great hot or iced.