Study finds ancient plant that gave blue dye has anti-cancer compounds

[icymist]

LONDON: A plant, called woad, used by ancient Britons and Celts to make blue war paint, is found to contain a potent compound that can be used in the fight against cancer.

The plant, belonging to the same family as cauliflower and broccoli, has high levels of the chemical compound, glucobrassicin, which has been proved to have anti-tumor properties and is particularly effective in the treatment of breast cancer.

A team of Italian scientists at Bologna University has found that woad contains 20 times more of glucobrassicin than broccoli, the plant that tops the list with powers to combat cancer. The researchers, headed by Stefania Galletti, found that it is possible to enhance the glucobrassicin levels in the plant by nearly 65 times.
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