Green tea helpful in controlling bladder cancer

LOS ANGELES, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Components of green tea may protect bladder cells from inflammation, according to a new study.

Green tea, reported to have many health benefits, is rich in powerful antioxidants that make it a possible remedy for many medical conditions, according to the study being presented by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSM).

The study was presented on Sunday at the ongoing annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, California.

Green tea is comprised of catechins plant metabolites that provide it with many anti-oxidative properties, said the study which looked at the ability of green tea to protect bladder cells from inflammation.

"We discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide," said Michael B. Chancellor, M.D. professor of urology and gynecology at the UPSM.

"Although further studies are needed, these results indicate herbal supplements from green tea could be a treatment option for various bladder conditions that are caused by injury or inflammation."

In the study, normal and cancerous bladder cells were exposed to two major catechin components of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), for 23 hours. Both significantly protected cell lines from exposure to hydrogen peroxide, which damages or kills cells. The concentrations of EGCG and ECG used in the study were at levels that may be achieved through dietary intake.

Editor: Yan Liang

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