Roles of Phytochemical Agents in the Prevention of Primary Cancer

Abstract

The initiation and progression of cancerous lesions causes changes to DNA structure. Carcinogenesis can occur because of non-modifiable (genetic) and modifiable risk factors. Evidence revealed that of all the types of cancer, 5-10% are caused by non-modifiable risk factors. Many are caused by modifiable risk factors which revealed that it is preventable. The prevention of cancer is feasible because of the distinctive features of phytochemical agents. This chapter sheds more light on the agents that cause DNA damage which can in turn lead to cancer. In this chapter, the authors also shed more light on the molecular mechanism through which phytochemical agents can prevent cancer. The antioxidant activities, detoxification processes, mechanism of DNA repair, and demethylation activities of phytochemical agents were discussed in this chapter. The clinical evidence of the genoprotective nature of natural substances was also explained.