Study: Green Tea Ingredient May Kill Oral Cancer Cells

Penn State food scientists have found that a compound found in green tea may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, according to the university. Earlier studies had shown that a compound found in green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate— EGCG—killed oral cancer cells without harming normal cells, but researchers did not understand the reasons for its ability to target the cancer cells. The current study showed that EGCG may trigger a process in the mitochondria that leads to cell death.

The research—which could lead to treatments for oral cancer—was reported in the online issue of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. Full report.