Chemopreventive and Chemosensitizing Effects of Green Tea: An Evidence-based Review

Cancer is a major health problem and second foremost cause of death globally. Chemotherapy either targeted or non-targeted is pervasive in the treatment of cancer but due to continuous and repeated doses, cancer cells develop resistance against these chemotherapeutic drugs through multiple mechanisms including MDR1 gene expression. EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate) is one of the major polyphenols present in the dry leaves of green tea plant (Camellia sinensis). It has been observed to potentiate the apoptosis and also inhibit cancer cell growth by affecting various signaling molecules and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Clinical studies demonstrated that EGCG treatment of different type of cancers has synergistic effect in combination treatment with other common clinical drugs (cisplatin, taxol, doxorubicin and vinblastine) by modulating chemotherapy response to cancer cells as compared to clinical drugs alone. This review enlightens the possible mechanisms by which EGCG overcome chemo-resistance and recover efficacy of many clinical drugs in various human cancers.

Automated summary

This article discusses the potential mechanisms of EGCG in treating cancer. EGCG has been found to enhance apoptosis and inhibit cancer cell growth by affecting signaling molecules and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Clinical studies have shown that EGCG, when used in combination with other common clinical drugs, can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy.