A plant used by ancient Britons as warpaint could be the latest weapon
in the battle against breast cancer. Woad produces a striking blue dye
which medieval warriors smeared on their faces and bodies to frighten
enemies. Now scientists have discovered the plant is a rich source of
the anti-cancer compound glucobrassicin. Previous researchers found that
the chemical, traditionally associated with broccoli, is effective
against breast cancer. Now the latest study has found that woad contains
20 times more gluco-brassicin than broccoli. They believe the discovery
could be an important tool in helping to fight the disease which affects
one in nine women in Britain at some point in their lives. One thousand
die from it each month.
Italian researchers from the University of Bologna have discovered that
the Woad plant
<http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/soci-awp081006.php>
belonging to the same Brassicaceae plant family as Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower and broccoli, contains 20 times more glucobrassicin than
broccoli. They also discovered that by wounding the Woad plant, they
were able to increase the concentration of glucobrassicin seven times
the normal level found in Woad. Glucobrassicin is known for its breast
cancer-fighting abilities, and researchers are hopeful that isolating
this compound will enable them to conduct clinical trials to better
understand and clarify its effectiveness against cancer.
According to the Wikipedia entry on Woad
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woad>, the first archaeological find of
woad seeds were found in the French cave of l'Audoste, Bouches du Rhone.
It is reported that Julius Caesar spoke of ancient Britons going into
battle naked and using blue dye derived from Woad in face and body
painting to terrify their opponents during battle. In addition, the blue
dye from Woad was used as a tattooing ink and medicinally as an astringent.
