US researchers have found that chemicals present in green tea can block the activity of a molecule that plays a key role in the development of cancer. Scientists have known for some time that green tea is a rich supply of cancer-fighting antioxidants and thus may help to prevent cancer, however this new research suggests that green tea’s ability to fight cancer may be far more potent. Professor Thomas Gasiewicz of the University of Rochester and colleagues found that two chemicals in green tea inhibit the activity of a molecule known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor. Carcinogens such as tobacco smoke and dioxins interfere with the functioning of the AH receptor and can cause it to activate a number of potentially harmful genes. Study results showed that the two chemicals &endash; which are similar to the flavonoids found in broccoli, grapes, and red wine &endash; shut down the AH receptor in cancerous mice cells. Early results suggest that the chemicals have the same ability in human cancer cells.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Chemical Research in Toxicology 2003;16:865-872.
