Phenols, also known as "polyphenols" or "phenolics" are a remarkable group of substances found in fruits, potatoes, garlic, brown rice, some nuts, and green tea.

Phenols are powerful antioxidants, and may help guard against cancer by neutralizing certain carcinogens, suppressing the promotion of activated cells, and increasing the production of natural detoxifying substances (such as the powerful detoxifer glutathione).

There are over 200 phenols, with names such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cinamic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, and gallotannic acid.

References

Loarca-Pina G, Kuzmicky PA, de Mejia EG, Kado NYInhibitory effects of ellagic acid on the direct-acting mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 in the Salmonella microsuspension assay.Mutat Res, Elattar TM, Virji ASThe inhibitory effect of curcumin, genistein, quercetin and cisplatin on the growth of oral cancer cells in vitro.Anticancer Res 2000 May-Jun;20(3A):1733-8