Green tea incorporates naturally occurring substances that possess potent anticancer characteristics, potentially capable of inhibiting the proliferation of brain tumors and inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in malignant cells.*
Scientists based at Nanjing Medical University in China investigated the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), derived from green tea, on gliomas and the associated cellular pathways. Their findings were documented and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research.
Prior studies have already linked green tea to anticancer benefits, with researchers reporting back in 2020 in “Nature Communications” that EGCG from green tea could repair DNA damage and eliminate cancerous cells.
Experts from Nanjing Medical University point out that EGCG represents the most abundant and biologically active catechin present in green tea, and its anticancer activity has been demonstrated against a range of tumor types.
Across a sequence of experiments conducted on both cell cultures and live mice, the investigators assessed the extent to which EGCG could offer protective or curative effects against gliomas, which constitute the most frequent type of primary brain tumor.
The research team observed that EGCG dose-dependently suppressed the growth, movement, and invasion of glioma cells, while simultaneously triggering the death (apoptosis) of the cancer cells.
In mice, treatment relying solely on EGCG substantially curbed the growth of cancerous cells; furthermore, combining it with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide amplified this effect with no discernible adverse systemic toxicity.
The researchers further assert that modification of the $\alpha$v$\beta$3 integrin/FAK/ERK signaling axis, along with alterations in MMP-2/MMP-9 expression, is vital for achieving these observed outcomes.
Overall, the study’s outcomes suggest that using this plant compound found in green tea as a standalone treatment may help slow down tumor expansion in cases of glioma, and its role as an adjunct therapy alongside chemotherapy could boost treatment success rates.
Consequently, the researchers conclude that EGCG emerges as a promising natural candidate for treating gliomas, especially when integrated with conventional chemotherapy regimens.
About the Author
