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.
