From the Guidelines
Green tea has been found to possess anticarcinogenic properties, primarily attributed to its high content of flavonoids, which are phytochemicals thought to play key roles in preventing cancer 1.
Key Findings
- Many studies suggest that tea consumption, including green tea, protects against chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer 1.
- Green tea has demonstrated significant antineoplastic effects in animal models of lung, skin, esophageal, and gastrointestinal cancers 1.
- The potential of green tea extract for lung cancer chemoprevention is being evaluated in an ongoing phase 2 randomized controlled trial 1.
Recommended Consumption
While there is no established recommended daily dose of green tea for anticarcinogenic effects, 2-3 cups of green tea per day may be a reasonable amount to consume, based on general guidelines for tea consumption.
Mechanism of Action
The anticarcinogenic properties of green tea are thought to be mediated by its ability to inhibit cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood 1.
Important Considerations
It is essential to note that while green tea may have anticarcinogenic properties, the evidence is primarily based on animal studies and more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in humans 1.
From the Research
Anticarcinogenic Properties of Green Tea
- Green tea has been proposed to have anticarcinogenic properties based on preclinical, observational, and clinical trial data 2
- The major catechin found in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has been shown to have anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis and promoting cell growth arrest 3
- EGCG has been found to have antiproliferative effects, and significantly induce cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and cell apoptosis 4
Mechanisms of Action
- EGCG functions as a powerful antioxidant, preventing oxidative damage in healthy cells, but also as an antiangiogenic and antitumor agent 3
- EGCG has been shown to inhibit enzyme activities and signal transduction pathways, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation and enhancement of apoptosis 5
- The gallic acid group in EGCG significantly enhances its anticancer potential, and could be utilized in future semi-synthesis of flavonoid derivatives to develop novel anticancer agents 4
Cancer Prevention
- Accumulating evidence indicates that consumption of green tea is good for preventing cancer, and EGCG has been revealed to restrain carcinogenesis in a variety of tissues 6
- Tea polyphenols, in particular EGCG, have been shown to inhibit the formation and development of tumours at different organ sites in animal models 5
- Existing data relating tea consumption to human cancer risk suggest that green tea compounds could protect against cancer, although the data are inconsistent and limitations in study design hinder full interpretation and generalizability of the published observational findings 2