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An abstract from the Journal Oncology Reports. has brought Green Tea back into the news yet again.
EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), the major antioxidant found in green tea, has been shown to inhibit the growth of many tumor cells even inducing the tumor cells to spontaneously die by a process known as apoptosis. EGCG can inhibit one of the enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and repair and thus cause reactivation of genes that lead to this effect. The gene responsible is known as TFPI-2, a member of the Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor family. Previous studies demonstrated that the expression of TFPI-2 and invasiveness of renal cell carcinoma had a negative correlation. TFPI-2 may induce tumor cell apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma. Lower expression of TFPI-2 in renal cell carcinoma may be induced by EGCG in green tea. This may explain the finding of the investigators where EGCG was shown to inhibit growth and induces apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma cell line. Although tests of invasiveness and metastasis did not indicate any significant differences between control and treatment group. The results suggest that EGCG inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma through overexpression of TFPI-2 . This is the first report showing that EGCG is likely to be an effective agent for renal cell carcinoma.
Green tea's story continue to impress me.
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