Green Tea Kills Oral Cancer Cells

Green tea helps fight oral cancer cells a new study has shown.

The compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) found in green tea helps kill oral cancer cells, while keeping healthy cells intact, the new study by Penn State food scientists indicates. This research could help find treatments for oral cancer as well as other types of cancer.

EGCG may trigger a process in the mitochondria of cancer cells that leads to cell death. The EGCG causes the formation of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, which damages the mitochondria, and the mitochondria responds by making more reactive oxygen species. As this mitochondrial demise continues, the cancer cell reduces the expression of anti oxidant genes, further lowering its defenses. The EGCG does not cause this reaction in normal cells. It appeared even to increase the protective capabilities of the cell, according to the research published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. EGCG is the major polyphenol found in green tea.

The researchers grew normal and cancer cells in petri dishes and then exposed them to EGCG. From time to time the researchers would collect the cells to check for ovidative stress and signs of antioxidant response. The resarchers also used fluorescent dyes that measure mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in cells. A protein called sirtuin 3 was found to be critical in the process.

Sirtuin 3 plas an important role in mitochondrial function and in anti-oxidant response in many tissues of the body. It is possible that EGCG might selectively affect the activity of sirtuin 3 in cancer cells to turn it off, and in normal cells to turn it on. This is probably applicable to different types of cancers.

The next step for the research would be to study the mechanism in animals. If animal and human trials are succesful the researchers hope to create a treatment for cancer that is as effective as current treatments without the harmful side effects.

Oral cancer is expected to kill 8,000 people in the United States this year.

Green tea is also helpful in weight loss, diabetes, heart protection and boosts immunity.

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