Spanish And UK Scientists Identify Cancer Inhibitor In Green Tea

A European Union funded project involving Spanish and UK scientists has established for the first time why drinking green tea can protect the body against certain forms of cancer. Previous epidemiological studies had already revealed the positive effects of green tea consumption on certain types of cancerous cells. Now scientists from the University of Murcia, Spain, and the John Innes Centre in Norwich, the UK, say they have isolated the substance responsible, offering a potential starting point for a new family of anti-cancer drugs. The researchers report that in laboratory experiments, a naturally occurring polyphenol (EGCG) isolated from green tea leaves inhibits the growth of cancer cells when present at the low concentrations found in green tea drinkers. However, they warn that the target enzyme with which EGCG binds to inhibit the growth of cancer cells has also been linked to birth defects such as spina bifida.