1 SIMILAR-TO THE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF INDOLE-3-CARBINOL (INDOLE-3-METHANOL) AND 3-(METHOXYMETHYL)INDOLE - [PART II]

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) (2) is produced endogenously from naturally oc curring glucosinolates contained in a wide variety of plant food subst ances including members of the family Cruciferae, and particularly mem bers of the genus Brassica, whenever they are crushed or cooked. The a cid environment of the gut very facilely converts it into a range of p olyaromatic indolic compounds, e.g. (3,4,5), which appear to be respon sible for many of the physiological effects observed following the ing estion of these foods. These so-called chemopreventive compounds are i mportant because of their enzyme induction and suppression, mutagenic, carcinogenic and, particularly, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic pr operties against a variety of classes of carcinogens. These properties as well as other miscellaneous properties of these substances are cri tically reviewed in detail in this paper of >170 references, the secon d of two parts. At the present time it appears that 13C and its congen ers have considerable potential as natural prophylactic anticancer age nts against certain common neoplasms, especially inasmuch modern diets are increasingly deficient in these vegetable-derived substances. A s hort general assessment of the substantial potential of the title comp ounds concludes the review.