Abstract

A diet rich in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage has long been
considered healthy, and various epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of
cruciferous vegetables contributes to a cancer-protecting diet. While these vegetables contain
a vast array of phyto chemicals, the mechanism by which these vegetables counteract cancer
is still largely unresolved. Numerous in situ studies have implicated indole-3-carbinol, a
breakdown product of the glucosinolate indole-3-ylmethylglucosinolate, as one of the phyto
chemicals with anti-cancer properties. Indole-3-carbinol influences a range of cellular
processes, but the mechanisms by which it acts on cancer cells are slowly being revealed.
Recent studies on the role of indole-3-carbinol in Arabidopsis opens the door for crosskingdom
comparisons that can help in understanding the roles of this important
phytohormone in both plant biology and combatting cancer.