Phytoestrogens – review

The prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma which accounts more than 95 % of the oral cancers is very poor. The main etiology of oral cancers is considered to be the use of tobacco (both smoking and chewing) which increases the production of reactive free radicals as well as eliciting immune suppression. Antioxidant can inhibit reactions of the tobacco specific nitrosamine (carcinogens) which undergo specific activation and detoxification process. Antioxidants such as β carotene, provitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium and spirulina are believed to have a preventive role against oral cancer. Key Words: Antioxidants, oral cancer, β- carotene, vitamin C, chemo preventive. 1