Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, contain compounds that produce isothiocyanates when ingested.
Now Dr. Steven Schwartz of Ohio State University in Columbus, and team, have found that cell growth slowed when they added isothiocyanates from broccoli sprouts to various lines of bladder cancer cells in a laboratory setting.
The investigators say that the effect was especially notable in an aggressive cell line that typically spreads quickly throughout the body.
These findings suggest that components in broccoli may be effective in blocking the spread of bladder cancer.