Salvestrols are a class of natural phytochemicals produced within plants first discovered during a cancer drug development program in 2002.

Salvestrols have been shown to respond to an enzyme called CYP1B1, which can be found in diseased cells in the human body. After being metabolised by the enzyme, salvestrols work to suppress and kill the diseased cell, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. They form a natural rescue mechanism allowing the body to remove aberrant cells.