It may be time to swap your morning coffee for a cup of freshly brewed green tea.
A new study conducted by scientists from food to Penn State University shows that green tea lead compound ?? epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) ?? can kill oral cancer cells and leave healthy cells unharmed.
Scientists believe that EGCG may trigger a process in the mitochondria of cancer cells that leads to early cell death. EGCG is known to induce cell death in cell lines of five mesothelioma.
?? It looks EGCG causes the formation of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, which damages mitochondria and mitochondria respond by making more reactive oxygen species, ?? said Joshua Lambert, associate professor of food science and co-director of the Penn State Center for plants and fungi foods for health.
Like mitochondria damage continues, the further cancer cell lowers her defenses, making it susceptible to early death from cancer.
studies show tannins and antioxidants in green tea may help slow or prevent the spread of cancerous cells of mesothelioma.
researchers say EGCG in green tea can kill the cancer cells of mesothelioma.
Penn State Study
The Penn State group studied the cancerous human buccal cells and human non-cancerous cells side by side orally to determine the effect of the EGCG at different stages of cancer development process of the mouth.
They harvested the cells in petri dishes and exposed to EGCG at concentrations generally found in saliva after the green tea chewing gum.
at various times throughout the study, the researchers collected cells checked for oxidative stress and antioxidant response of signs. They also took several pictures after tinting the cells with fluorescent dyes to measure mitochondrial function and oxidative stress.
The researchers said the SIRT3 protein, also known as sirtuins 3, is essential to the process.
"plays an important role in mitochondrial function and antioxidant response in many tissues in the body, so the idea that EGCG could selectively affect the activity of sirtuins 3 in cells cancerous extinguish, and in normal cells, to activate it, is probably applicable in several types of cancer, "said Lambert.
This study marks the latest research to highlight tea green as a potential cancer fighter.
a 02 study first revealed the correlation between green tea and oral cancer, but it was not ?? t until 2015 that this study scientists have understood why green tea only cancer cells specifically targeted.
What's next?
Lambert said the next step would be to study the process in animals. If these tests and human trials are successful, researchers hope to create anti-cancer treatments that work just as well that current cancer treatments, but do not have the harmful side effects.
Currently, treatment for oral cancer, which kills 8000 and affects 43,000 Americans annually, is limited to a combination of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
While traditional chemotherapy is an effective way to treat cancer, it comes with many negative side effects, such as fever, vomiting and hair loss.
You do ?? t see these side effects with EGCG in green tea.
"If future human clinical trials are positive," Lambert said, "I think that green tea may be useful for preventing the development of cancer of the mouth, and the prevention of recurrence in people had surgery or chemotherapy treatments. I do not think that green tea will become a first-line therapy to treat patients with oral cancer. "
Although green tea offers a multitude of health benefits non-cancer and cancer patients as well, always consult your doctor to find out if green tea is the best drink for you .
other health benefits of green tea
green tea has long been hailed for its many health benefits.
ancient drink is century- used to increase mental alertness, cholesterol levels, help with weight loss and protect the skin against sun damage.
green tea is also used as a supplement to aid in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers, including those of the skin, breast, stomach and lung.
