DynaMo Center is pleased to invite you to our next DynaMo seminar:

Glucosinolates, Brassica and cancer risk

with Prof. Richard Mithen from Institute of Food Research (IFR), Norwich, UK

Epidemiological studies, experimental research with model systems and human intervention studies strongly indicate that dietary consumption of Brassica vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbages) is associated with numerous health benefits including reduction of cancer and myocardial infarction as well as improved management of type-2 diabetes. The active components within Brassica vegetables are widely considered to be glucosinolates and their hydrolytic products, notably isothiocyanates that have been shown in a large number of animal studies to have 'anticarcinogenic' activity through a variety of mechanisms. There is, however, remarkable little data from human experimental studies that Brassica may have a health-promoting role, and that this may be mediated through glucosinolates. This seminar will briefly summarize the synthesis of specialized sulphur-containing metabolites in Brassica and the biological activity of isothiocyanates. It will then describe and present some preliminary results from a 12 month dietary intervention study with men who have organ-confined prostate cancer.

Professor Richard Mithen is a leading expert in the effect of phytochemicals in human nutrition, particularly the effect of broccoli in humans and animal models. His research interests are in how diets rich in cruciferous vegetables can reduce the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease.