Antitumorigenic herbs, herbs that inhibit the formation or growth of tumors, included rosemary, garlic, turmeric, basil, etc.

According to Singletory et al., extracts of the spice rosemary officinalis L. have been reported to inhibit experimental carcinogenesis. Two rosemary components, carnosol and ursolic acid, appear to be partly responsible for the antitumorigenic activity of rosemary. The present studies were conducted in order to evaluate the activity of rosemary extract, carnosol and ursolic acid in inhibiting the in vivo formation of mammary [[7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene|7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene]] (DMBA)-DNA adducts and the initiation of DMBA-induced mammary tumorigenesis in female rats.

References

Singletary K; MacDonald C; Wallig M. Inhibition by rosemary and carnosol of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis and in vivo DMBA-DNA adduct formation.Cancer Lett, 104(1):43-8 1996 Jun 24