*Effects of Different Tea Products on the Growth of Cancer Cells
November
2019
EC Nutrition 14.12 (2019): 01-13.
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Breakthrough Cancer Research by The University of Kansas Medical Center & The Beljanski Foundation
A research study by The University of Kansas Medical Center analyzing the anti-cancer effects of several well-known teas has shown that OnkoTea®, a newly developed blend of green teas, is most effective at inhibiting the growth of multiple cancer cell lines. This blend combines four different green teas: Ceylon Green, Bi Lou Chun, Organic Gunpowder and Dragonwell. The anti-cancer potential of each of these four green teas was originally identified by Prof. M. Beljanski of the Pasteur Institute using the Oncotest, an assay he developed for detecting carcinogenic and anti-carcinogenic compounds. The anti-cancer activity of OnkoTea® was compared with the activity of several popular brands of tea including Bigelow, Kusmi and Lipton. The first tests analyzed the activity of OnkoTea® against breast cancer cells including one highly metastatic cell line. OnkoTea® was the best at reducing the number of breast cancer cells. OnkoTea® also proved to be effective against liver and bladder cancer cells and showed impressive activity against four melanoma skin cancer cell lines. The data shows the viability of the cancer cell lines after exposure to extracts of each of the teas that were tested with OnkoTea® “showing the best inhibitory effect.” The studies were conducted in vitro and tested a range of concentrations of the teas (200, 400, 600 and 800 micrograms per milliliter) at 24, 48 and 72 hour time points as shown in the images below. Cancer cell lines tested: Breast MCF-7, Metastatic Breast MDA-MB-231; Liver HepG2, Bladder 5637, Melanoma A375, UACC-257, SK-MEL-2, SK-MEL-5. Green teas are known to have anti-cancer benefits, but the new cancer research shows that the activity of OnkoTea® stands out for having the most potent anti-cancer effect. Current models of carcinogenesis—how cancer starts—tell us that a gradual, but persistent exposure to carcinogens in our environment is responsible. Many of these carcinogens get into our cells, bind to our DNA and damage DNA structure. After chronic interactions with carcinogens the DNA is destabilized—no longer structurally healthy, and the two strands of the duplex are sporadically separated, making the cell amenable to the onset of cancer. But if cancer starts by gradual buildup of DNA destabilization, might gradual consumption of a mix of green teas with relatively potent anti-cancer effect be part of the antidote? It takes years for the DNA damage associated with cancer to develop and the habitual consumption of a tea with documented anti-cancer effect can be part of a prevention strategy.Abstract
Tea preparations are popular for its anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. We want to understand how different tea products could differently affect the growth of cancer cells with heterogeneity. Here we evaluated 4 popular tea products on the growth of multiple cancer cells with different genetic makeovers, including 3 green teas and a black tea, namely Bigelow Tea – Green Tea with Mint (Bigelow), Kusmi Tea – Chinese Green Tea (Kusmi), OnkoTea® – Base Tea Blend (Onko), and Lipton Tea – Lipton Black Tea (Lipton).
Panels of breast cancer cells, melanoma cells, liver cancer cells, and bladder cancer cells were tested. The results showed that:
- The effects of tea on cell proliferation was concentration dependent. At lower concentrations (< 100 µg/mL), all the 4 tea extracts increased cell viability at 24h treatment. The increase of cell viability diminished, and inhibitory effects was observed as the treatment duration was longer. At a higher concentration range (200 – 800 µg/mL), all 4 tea products inhibited the cancer cells, typically with OnkoTea® showing the best inhibitory effect and Lipton tea the least.
- The inhibitory effect was cell line dependent. The melanoma cells A375 cells showed the best sensitivity to the OnkoTea® treatment, which harbors homologous BRAF mutation. The bladder cancer cell line 5637 showed good sensitivity to the tea products, whereas the liver cancer cell line HepG2 was the most resistant of all the tested cells.
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