3.1. Inhibition of cancers in animal
It has been reported that genistein has a protective
role against carcinogenesis in animals. Prepubertal
exposure to soy or genistein reduced
mammary carcinogenesis in rats treated with carcinogens,
possibly by modulating the development of
the mammary end buds [27,89]. One of the early
studies revealed that soy-containing diets reduced
the severity of prostatitis in rats [90]. Soy isoflavone
supplemented diets also prevented the development
of adenocarcinomas in the prostate and seminal vesicles
in a rat carcinogenesis model [91]. It has also
been reported to be effective in chemical carcinogen-
induced rat ovarian carcinogenesis [92].