title: Progress in studies on the antimutagenicity and anticarcinogenicity of green tea epicatechins.
abstract: An antioxidative fraction was extracted from green tea and the major compounds in the fraction identified as epicatechins. Experimental results showed that green tea epicatechin compounds (GTEC) inhibited the mutagenicity and/or chromosomal damage caused by different carcinogens in both bacterial and mammalian cells. In vitro, GTEC inhibited transformation of BALB/3T3 cells induced by BP, X-rays, or MCA/TPA. In vivo, green tea extract decreased the incidence of carcinoma in the forestomach and esophagus of mice induced by sarcosine and NaNO2. GTEC inhibited the development of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci in the livers of rats treated with diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) or DEN/phenobarbital. Our investigations indicate that the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic mechanisms of GTBC are related to the following: increased glutathione-S-transferase activity; inhibition of edema, hyperplasia, and ODC activity induced by TPA; free radical scavenging; blocked tumor promoter-induced inhibition of intercellular communication; and enhanced cell-mediated immunity. GTEC might be useful in the prevention of some kinds of cancer and a variety of oxidation-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, CAMS, Beijing.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C062669:epicatechin gallate