Patent ID: 6228365
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of reducing the incidence of pulmonary tumor formation in animals exposed to a chemical selected from the group consisting of a tumor-promoting chemical and a tumor-initiating chemical, wherein a reduction in the incidence of pulmonary tumor formation is measured in terms of a reduction in the number of tumors per animal or a reduction in the percentage of animals which exhibit tumor formation, said method comprising the steps of:obtaining a group of animals which have been exposed to a defined amount of a chemical selected from the group consisting of a tumor-promoting chemical and a tumor-initiating chemical; andproviding the group of animals with drinking water containing an amount of betanins which is effective to reduce the incidence of pulmonary tumor formation in the group of animals, said betanins having been extracted from beetroot;wherein the defined amount of the chemical is sufficient to increase the incidence of pulmonary tumor formation in a group of animals which have been exposed to the chemical, and have been provided with drinking water containing no betanins.