Green tea induces programmed cell death in human cancer cells. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Induction of apoptosis in human stomach cancer cells by green tea catechins.
Oncol Rep. 1998 Mar-Apr;5(2):527-9. PMID: 9468594
The exposure of human stomach cancer KATO III cells to green tea catechin extract and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a main component of the extract led to both growth inhibition and the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Morphological changes showing apoptotic body were observed in the cells treated with green tea catechin extract and EGCG. The fragmentation of DNA to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, characteristic of apoptosis was determined to be concentration- and time-dependent. These data suggest that drinking of green tea in large amounts is recommended possibly to protect humans from stomach cancer.