Researchers believe that phytochemicals found in pomegranates(ザクロ)may help prevent the development of breast cancer by blocking aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen in the body. About 75 percent of breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive, meaning they thrive(成長する)on estrogen, and many women who have had breast cancer take aromatase inhibitors(酵素の働きを阻害する物質、抑制遺伝子). While the pomegranate compounds are not sufficient to replace aromatase inhibitors, scientists hope they will one day be used to help prevent breast cancer development.