Green tea is an herbal beverage made from a Chinese evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis. It is also sold as dietary supplements in the form of capsules. It is naturally cholesterol free and delivers a hefty amount of antioxidants. Green tea supplementation has been associated with many health benefits in humans. In recent times, green tea has been advocated for the treatment and prevention of cancer in humans. Do not use green tea capsules without first talking to your doctor, however.
Inhibition of Metastasis
In a paper published in the journal "Nanotechnology," researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles showed that high levels of green tea polyphenols act at many points of cancer, including metastasis, which is the spread of cancer cells from their primary site to other parts of the body. James Gimzewski, a UCLA professor of chemistry and biochemistry, proposes that green tea extract, GTE, may affect cancer cells by limiting their ability to invade and metastasize to a new organ.
Antioxidant Property
Green tea capsules contain some well-studied phytochemicals, which are found in plants. Particular compounds called polyphenols found in green tea capsules -- such as catechins -- are under investigation for their potential antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants can form complexes with free radicals and neutralize them. Free radicals, or unstable oxygen molecules, such as molecular oxygen, superoxide and hydroxyl, exert harmful effects on cells and are believed to contribute to the development of certain types of cancers, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Breast Cancer Cells
University of Maryland Medical Center researchers examined the effect of green tea capsules on breast cancer. The results showed that green tea users had a reduced risk of suffering, especially postmenopausal women with early stages of breast cancer, compared to a group that did not use tea green tea. These results provide further evidence that green tea is not effective in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
Bladder Cancer Cells
A study by Johnson Cancer Center researchers reporting that green tea capsules inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed. Jian Yu Rao, an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles, says that green tea polyphenols kill bladder cancer cells by inducing cell death and by preventing angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that provide cancer cells with a fresh, direct supply of nutrients for growth and proliferation.
References
- California NanoSystems Institute; Nanomechanical Investigations Show How Green Tea Can Repair Cancer Cells; Richard Kaner; April 5, 2011
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Green Tea; April 19, 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Green Tea; Sept. 20, 2010
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; Green Tea Extract Shows Potential as an Anti-Cancer Agent, Study Finds; Jianyu Rao; Feb. 15, 2005
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