Tea May Prevent Cell Mutation

Tea May Prevent Cell Mutation

Another way tea may help fight cancer is through preventing cell mutation. The antioxidation action of the polyphenols in green tea inhibit mutation of the DNA in healthy cells, which can cause them to become cancer cells. In rats injected with a cancer-causing substance and fed green tea, cancer did not develop, but it did in the control group without tea.

An antioxidant made from green tea applied to skin significantly inhibited growth of induced skin cancer in mice. It is the EGCG catechin that improves fidelity of DNA replication, say Japanese researchers.

In similar tests in Fujian province, green tea markedly decreased the incidence of lung cancer in rats (1.51% of the green tea drinkers developed it, and 3.38 of the non-tea control group). Jasmine and oolong tea were also tested, the former cutting cancer somewhat, but not as mush as green tea. Oolong had no effect.

These researchers made the startling discovery that day-old green tea may help produce cancer. Rats drinking it had a higher rate of incidence than the control group which did not have tea.

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