Green tea kills cancer cells and HIV

A team of US scientists from Rochester studied the beneficial properties of green tea, which made it possible to find drug compounds against some of the deadliest diseases in the world - cancer and AIDS. Small clinical trials have shown encouraging results. More pleasing and that the substance detected in a large amount even not have any side effects.

Scientists have noticed anti-tumor effect in antioxidant epigalokatehin Galat (Epigallocatechin gallate - EGCG), which is found in green tea. It suspends the reproduction of cancer cells, particularly blood cells.

Action antioxidant tested first in laboratory animals, and then on 33 patients with leukemia. For months the patients took the capsules with a component of green tea. Doses ranged from 400 to 2000 mg of substance. The results of studies with animals and people were about the same - a third of the experimental number of lymphocytes (immune cells) increased by more than 20%, and enlarged lymph nodes halved.

American experts do not exclude that in this way may affect epigalokatehin Galat and viruses, such as HIV. The more recent research of their colleagues from the Hamburg Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology Henry Petty came to the same conclusion. They found that EGCG from green tea at high concentrations significantly reduces the likelihood of HIV infection in women during sex.

These sensational data scientists published in a special edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Of course, to recover only one green tea is not possible. One cup of the drink contained about 150 mg of active compound. But the concentrated drug based on it can stop cancer at an early stage or to enhance the effectiveness of other drugs. Towards the realization of such drugs and researchers are planning to move in the near future.