Drinking a cup of green tea refreshes and calms you down, especially when you’re stressed or anxious. But there’s more to this drink than its soothing taste—it may hold the key to fighting cancer.
Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the oldest and most widely consumed beverages today. Different types are sold today such as Oolong or black tea, white tea and yellow tea. Among these species, however, green tea is known for its high amount of flavonoid catechins. This is because the beneficial catechins are converted to theaflavin when tea is brewed or fermented.1
The main catechin found in green tea is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGG), and recent studies have shown that2,3 These powerful antioxidants are particularly beneficial in fighting or preventing cancer.
Understanding the therapeutic potential of EGCG
In the year By 2023, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be nearly 2 million new cases of cancer in the United States, with more than 600,000 deaths.4 Fortunately, there are natural dietary supplements that can help prevent or control this disease.
EGCG is one example – a natural compound in green tea, known for its health benefits. This catechin is not only an antioxidant; It plays an important role in modulating cell signals that are critical for cancer growth and development. EGCG’s ability to influence these pathways makes it promising in cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
Two studies,5,6 Both published in the journal Molecule, but one year apart, highlight how EGCG can prevent cancer. In the most recent review published in March 2024, the researchers highlighted the effects of EGCG on cancer cells in animal models, particularly its anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic properties. Basically, it helps fight cancer by targeting several key aspects that cancer cells rely on to grow and spread.
EGCG targets cancer symptoms
EGCG’s effects on cancer are profound. In the year According to a 2024 study, EGCG interferes with the signals that cancer cells use to multiply faster. By blocking these growth signals, EGCG effectively reduces the division of cancer cells, making it difficult for tumors to spread.
In addition to stopping cancer cell growth, EGCG also inhibits angiogenesis, the process by which tumors develop their own blood supply. Without this blood supply, cancer cells receive less oxygen and nutrients, which hinders their growth and reduces the size of the tumor. According to the researchers:
“Cancer needs a constant supply of blood for growth, and when this supply is interrupted, cancer can become dormant. The ability to inhibit the angiogenesis process is seen as a strength in cancer treatment efforts. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the development of many health problems.”
EGCG also promotes apoptosis, which is the programmed death of cells. This means that EGCG helps the natural process of removing damaged cells, including cancer, thereby reducing the number of cancer cells in the body as a whole.
“EGCG has shown good results in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in laboratory studies and animal models. It has been found to activate several pathways involved in apoptosis, including the activation of caspases and enzymes responsible for initiating and executing the apoptotic process.” The researchers pointed out.
The study also indicated how EGCG affects signaling important for cancer cell survival and metabolism. By targeting these pathways, EGCG not only inhibits the growth of cancer cells, but also makes them more susceptible to conventional cancer treatments.
This multifaceted approach is what distinguishes EGCG as a potential therapeutic agent. Its ability to simultaneously target multiple cancer markers makes it a promising agent in cancer therapy, providing a comprehensive approach to control and slow cancer progression.7
“Anticancer drugs are successful in treating cancer, but they can have negative side effects such as changes in physiological and biochemical processes, fatigue, hair loss, infection, nausea and vomiting. A review of several biological compounds and natural products has been shown. To prevent and prevent cancer to have a key role.
Many experimental and clinical research studies have noted that EGCG has anti-cancer properties. EGCG is a key physiological anticancer drug due to its role in inducing multiple anticancer processes in many cancer symptoms. The researchers concluded.
EGCG may protect against various types of cancer.
In the year The previous molecular study, published in 2023,8 It presents the same conclusions as the new study. It also shows some of EGCG’s mechanisms of action and how it can positively impact your health. According to the researchers, this powerful compound has:9
- Strong anti-inflammatory EGCG’s antioxidant activity is 25 to 100 times stronger than that of vitamins C and E.
- Anti-inflammatory effects- According to the authors, “The results of several studies show that EGCG modulates the expression of inflammation-related genes and proteins such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP.”
- Epigenetic effect – EGCG changes how genes are regulated in cells, which affects cancer growth. It reactivates genes that prevent cancer growth, suppresses tumor genes and even induces apoptosis.
The authors of the study also mentioned that several in-vitro and in-vivo studies have shown the multi-pronged anti-tumor properties of this catechin. They looked at a variety of cancer cells, including bladder, breast, cervical, liver, colorectal, gastric, lung, and head and neck cancers.10
EGCG affects key cellular signaling pathways in cancer treatment.
In the year The 2023 study looked at how EGCG affects several signaling pathways important for cancer cell growth and survival.11 By interfering with the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) pathway, EGCG disrupts signals that normally promote tumor growth and division. This restriction can help slow down or even stop the growth of some cancers.
EGCG also affects the JAK-STAT pathway, which is critical for transmitting information from chemical signals outside the cell to the cell nucleus, resulting in DNA transcription and activity. By modulating this pathway, EGCG reduces the ability of cancer cells to proliferate and resist cell death.
In addition, the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, known for its role in regulating cell growth, metabolism and survival, is another target of EGCG. By inhibiting this pathway, EGCG not only suppresses tumor growth but also enhances the effectiveness of other cancer treatments, making it an important component in combination therapies.
Beyond these pathways, the antioxidant properties of EGCG play an important role in its anti-cancer effects. By scavenging harmful free radicals, EGCG protects cells from DNA damage that leads to cancer development. This pathway inhibition and antioxidant activity make EGCG a versatile agent in the fight against cancer.
Preclinical studies using cell cultures and animal models have consistently shown that EGCG can reduce tumor size and prevent metastasis. Clinical trials further support these findings, showing that EGCG, alone and in combination with other treatments, improves the outcome of cancer patients. These studies highlight the potential of EGCG as an adjunctive therapy in cancer treatment protocols.
By targeting these key signaling pathways and enhancing the body’s natural anticancer defenses, EGCG shows promising potential in the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer.
EGCG has poor bioavailability.
Despite its promising results, EGCG faces a major challenge – poor bioavailability. This term refers to the amount and quantity in which the active ingredient is taken and located at the site of action.
In the case of EGCG, studies have shown that its absorption in the human body is limited, which means that it is difficult to achieve effective concentrations in the blood. This limitation poses a significant obstacle to its use in clinical settings.
However, current research is focused on overcoming this obstacle. Scientists are exploring advanced delivery systems to improve EGCG bioavailability. Methods such as encapsulation in nanoparticles or liposomes are being developed to improve stability and absorption.12 These innovations help EGCG reach its target in the body more efficiently, thereby maximizing its therapeutic potential.
Understanding the mechanisms of EGCG and optimizing its origins may revolutionize cancer treatment. By making EGCG more accessible and effective, it may become a key component in the fight against cancer, providing a natural and complementary approach to conventional treatments. This knowledge not only shows the importance of EGCG in cancer research, but also opens up new ways to apply it to health and well-being.
Here’s a quick way to increase the bioavailability of EGCG.
An easy way to increase the benefits of green tea is to add vitamin C – in tea, a squeeze of lemon juice does the trick. According to research, vitamin C significantly increases the amount of catechins available to your body.
The 2020 Indonesian study was published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Indonesian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences).13 After the addition of vitamin C showed a difference in the amount of ketones in the tea. The researchers prepared two samples of green tea; In one group, 1 to 3 mg of different amounts of vitamin C were added. The other group had no vitamin C added.
After their catechin content was recorded, all green tea samples were left for four days and then their catechin content was tested again. The researchers found that the vitamin C-fortified green tea samples had only 9.76% less catechins; The catechins of samples without vitamin C decreased by 19.83%.
“Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant green tea catechin with powerful anti-cancer effects. EGCG in green tea is very susceptible to degradation, which is urgent to increase the stability of EGCG by adding vitamin C. Vitamin C can convert radical EGCG to normal EGCG. It renews. The authors conclude.14
Meanwhile, adding milk to green tea has the opposite effect. Milk contains proteins that bind to and destroy the antioxidants in tea, reducing its health benefits. According to one study, “all[beneficial vascular protective]effects were completely blocked by adding milk to tea.”15
Look for high quality green tea
Know what you want in terms of quality when buying green tea. One of the signs that you are drinking high quality green tea is that the tea is green. If your green tea looks brown instead of green, it may be oxidation that damages or destroys many of the beneficial compounds.
Boiling loose tea leaves can also provide more antioxidants. It also helps you remove toxins and microplastics that may be in tea bags. In the year In a 2019 study, researchers found that when a tea bag is placed in hot water, it releases billions of plastic particles.16
One cup of green tea contains 20 to 35 milligrams of EGCG. It gives you, so if you drink three cups a day, you will get 60 to 105 milligrams. Higher doses have also been used in studies, more than 1,500 milligrams per day. However, there is still no clear evidence of how exactly EGCG is better.
The good news is that most of the research on green tea is based on three cups a day, which is easily accessible and enjoyable for most people.
