Your mother was right: Eating your vegetables is good for you.

In fact, new research by University of Missouri scientists has found that luteolin — a natural compound found in broccoli, celery, and other vegetables, as well as herbs such as thyme and parsley — can reduce the breast cancer risk for women who have taken hormone replacement therapy.

Lead researcher Salman Hyder explained that the study determined that as human breast cancer cells develop, they tend to take on stem cell-like properties, which can make them harder to kill.
But in research involving mice, he found luteolin caused a vast reduction in this phenomenon, indicating the natural compound exerts an anti-tumor effect in a variety of ways.

"We feel that luteolin can be effective when injected directly into the bloodstream, so IV supplements may still be a possibility," Hyder said. "But, until the supplement is tested for safety and commercialized, which we hope will happen after further testing and clinical trials, women should continue consuming a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables."

More than 100 women die from breast cancer every day in the United States. Postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy are most at risk.

"In most circumstances, hormone replacement therapies improve the lives of menopausal women and achieve excellent results," said Hyder. "Nevertheless, research has proven that a higher incidence of breast cancer tumors can occur in women receiving therapies that involve a combination of the natural component estrogen and the synthetic progestin.

Hyder said the new study results are promising. If additional studies are successful within the next few years, MU officials will request approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin human drug development based on the findings, then proceed to clinical trials in cancer patients.

The research was published in the journal Springer Plus.