Phytochemicals are now increasingly being used as nutritional supplements to either prevent or
treat chronic diseases including cancer. The mechanisms of action of the phytochemicals can range from:
inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, inhibiting mitochondrial damage and inhibiting or promoting
angiogenesis. The significance of oxidative stress in the etiology of aging and several chronic diseases:
including cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s, has given support to the usage of these
phytochemicals to inhibit oxidative damage. The complexity of the chemistry involved in oxidative stress
damage to cells or tissue adds to the consideration of choice of the phytochemical to combat these effects.
Cancer is a multifactorial disease. Epidemiological studies have shown beneficial effects of several
phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of several types of cancer. This chapter will address the role
of oxidative stress in cancer and the antioxidant action of some of the most popularly used phytochemicals
including-green tea, soy, resveratrol and ellagic acid (flavonoids, polyphenols).
Keywords: Diet, Ellagic Acid, Food, Green Tea, JNK, NADPH, Phytochemical, Reactive Oxygen Species,
Prostate Specific Antigen, Resveratrol, Soy.
