British scientists create supercharged GM tomatoes that could help beat cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease

One GM tomato produces the same amount of genistein - which may help prevent breast cancer - as 2.5 kilograms of tofu

Supercharged GM tomatoes packed with natural chemicals that combat illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease could soon be on the menu.

British scientists are experimenting with a range of genetically engineered tomatoes.

One contains 50 times the amount of the antioxidant resveratrol as a bottle of wine.

Resveratrol, which is found in red grapes and also peanuts and berries, is believed to protect the heart and circulatory system and lower cholesterol.

Another tomato produced the same amount of genistein - a soybean compound that may help prevent breast cancer - as 2.5 kilograms of tofu.

The key to turning tomatoes into natural medicine factories is a protein called AtMYB12, found in the garden weed thale cress.

Introducing the protein to tomatoes boosted levels of phenylpropanoids, a family of organic compounds that increases a range of plant chemicals.

Genes encoding specific enzymes were added to switch on production resveratrol or genistein, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Communications.

The scientists hope tomatoes will provide a more cost-effective way of producing valuable plant chemicals than synthesising them artificially or extracting tiny amounts from natural sources such as grapes and soybeans.

Professor Cathie Martin, from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, said: "Our work will be of interest to different research areas including fundamental research on plants, plant/microbe engineering, medicinal plant natural products, as well as diet and health research."

Co-author Dr Yang Zhang added: "Medicinal plants with high value are often difficult to grow and manage, and need very long cultivation times to produce the desired compounds.