Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol with anticancer properties, was already known for its capability to inhibit carcinogenesis [11], in spite the mechanism how EGCG achieved this wasn't still completely clear.

It seems that EGCG affects multiple biological pathways [12], one of the ways these polyphenols achieve their anti-cancerous properties in multiple types of cancers. However one of the reasons why researchers couldn't profit from its anti-cancer properties was the inability to specifically reach tumors deploying EGCG via intravenous administration [10], so the deployment of EGCG in the blood stream didn't reach the cancer cells and couldn't be effectevely used against them. Image left: Tea plantation by sarahemcc under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Now, a group of researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, have discovered an effective way of deploying EGCG in a way that it will be able to effectively reach its target, cancer cells [10].

The research showed very promissing results, with two-thirds of tumours treated with this new method shrinking or disappearing withing one month of treatment with no side effects to normal tissues [10]. But how did they achieve EGCG to be deployed so effectevely to cancer cells?

CAMELLIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camellia
Common name: Green tea

Camelia sinensis plant leaves (Tea), have been cultivated, harvested and used since thousands of years ago. Out of the six main varieties of tea (white, yellow, green, Oolong, black and post-fermented teas, only four of them are massively used white, green, Oolong and black [1], and only one, green tea, is rich in the polyphenol EGCG, the most active polyphenol found in Green Tea and capable to increase the number of regulatory T cells, something which may be very useful to fight certain affections as the autoimmune disease.

CAMELIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camelia
Common name: Green tea