Researchers in the United States say that a compound found in green tea kills off cancer cells in one form of leukaemia.

A team led by Neil Kay at the Mayo Clinic used laboratory cell cultures to show that the compound, known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), helped to kill leukaemia cells.

Writing in the journal Blood, the researchers reported that patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), common among people in their mid-to-late sixties, showed a reduction in cancer cells after being given the compound.

The EGCG from green tea interrupted survival signals, prompting leukaemia cells to die in eight of 10 patient samples tested.

The team said they would continue to look for therapeutic agents that were non toxic to the patient but kill cancer cells.

Kay said the EGCG finding was “an excellent start”. 

He said researchers now had a lot to work with in finding earlier, less toxic therapies for CLL patients, who are normally only given chemotherapy if the disease progresses.

CLL progresses at a different pace, and towards a different outcome, depending on the individual.

For some patients, it is a question of managing the disease over many years, and for others it may be fatal within just a few months, in spite of treatment.

Physicians have tended to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude with CLL in its early stages, in the hope of sparing elderly patients the exposure to toxic chemotherapy.

The problem is now focused around how to identify which patients have the more aggressive form of the disease at a relatively early stage.

Non-toxic therapies like EGCG could be offered as an early-stage therapy before patients consider whether or not to have chemotherapy, researchers said.

Epidemiological studies since the 1970s have shown lower incidence of solid tumour cancers in parts of the world where green tea is consumed.

In mice, green tea has been shown to protect against solid tumour formation, while EGCG has also been shown to kill solid tumour cells in the laboratory.

The researchers speculate that EGCG kills leukaemia cells by inhibiting their ability to communicate with each other, and to receive blood flow.

Green Tea leaves on a lovely living tea bush...

Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing.

Green Tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where Black Tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer. Green Tea has also been claimed useful for weight loss management.

MORE IMPORTANT INFO ON GREEN TEA:

• Green Tea generally begins using its flavor after about a year, so do not store for long periods of time.

Green Tea General Brewing Guidelines
Brewing Temperature: 175° (let boiling water rest for a minute before adding tea)
Brewing Time: 1-3 minutes (any longer, the tea will become bitter)
1 tsp of loose tea per 8 oz cup

• If you are new to Green Tea, a sampler like the one (below) we recommend from Adagio Teas™ is a great way to try different varieties and discover your favorites. Highly recommended!!!

The many beautiful varieties of Green Tea make this beverage a lot more exciting than most people realize!

The healing properties of green tea have put it in the forefront of today’s wellness news.

Known for its versatile and positive properties benefiting the whole body, it promotes blood circulation and increases the body’s natural resistance, helping with oxygenation. Proponents of green tea claims it achieves greater harmony and improves the body’s ability to handle the external physical and psycological pressures of life.

Green Tea also helps to prevent tooth decay and make teeth more resistant to acids, promote digestion and cleanse the body internally. Unlike Black Tea, which oxidizes as it dries, changing the characteristics of the tea, green tea is flash-steamed for about 20 seconds to retain the maximum amount of active properties.

Green tea contains vitamin B, as well as C and E. Many tea drinkers say that they actually feel less tired and that drinking green tea brightens their whole outlook.