EGCg Encourages Human Breast Cancer Cells to "Commit
Suicide"
Study description: Researchers examined the
effects of the green tea catechin called EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate) on
human breast cancer cells.
Type of study: "Test-tube" study
What happened: EGCg encouraged cancer cells
(T-47D cells) to "commit suicide" (a process called apoptosis). The effect was dose-dependent,
which means that the breast cancer cells "committed suicide" at a faster rate as
more EGCg was added.
Researchers' conclusion: "These findings
suggest that EGCg might be useful in treatment and/or prevention of breast
cancer by inducing apoptosis."
Citation: Zhao X, Tian H, Ma X, et
al. Epigallocatechin gallate, the main ingredient of green tea, induces apoptosis
in breast cancer cells. Frontiers in Bioscience 2006;11:2428-33. (Click here to read PubMed study
abstract.)
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
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