Wikipedia
1,3-Diphenyl-1,3-propanedione (dibenzoylmethane, DBM) is an aromatic 1,3- diketone derivative of acetylacetone (acac), where both methyl groups in acac have been substituted by phenyl groups. It is a white solid melting at 77−78 °C. Similar to acac, DBM exists in two tautomeric forms, with the keto-enol equilibrium of DBM shifting strongly towards the enol form, particularly in non-polar solvents such as benzene. This is the result of the stability of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the cis-enol form which is further resonance-stabilized by conjugation with phenyl rings. Due to its high photostability, derivatives of DBM such as avobenzone, have found applications as sunscreen products.
Dibenzoylmethane (DBM) is a natural phytochemical found as a minor constitute in the root extract of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra in the family Leguminosae), it is a beta-diketone phytochemical with a wide variety of anti-cancer effects. DBM has been shown to prevent the formation of DNA-adducts induced by carcinogen in both in vitro and in vivo studies. DBM could induce apoptosis in human prostate and colon cancer cells , and induce cycle arrest in prostate cancer cells