Scientific Correspondence

Nature 387, 561 (5 June 1997) | doi:10.1038/42381

Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer

Jerzy Jankun1, Steven H. Selman1, Rafal Swiercz2 & Ewa Skrzypczak-Jankun3

Epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of green tea may help prevent cancers in humans; also, breast and prostate cancers in animal models are reduced by green, but not black, tea1. Here we offer a possible explanation. We have inferred (using molecular modelling) and subsequently demonstrated that one of the major ingredients of green tea inhibits urokinase, an enzyme crucial for cancer growth.

  1. Department of Urology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 3699-0008, USA
    e-mail: Email: jerzy@golemxiv.dh.mco.edu
  2. Department of Physiology and Molecular Medicine,, Toledo, Ohio 3699-0008, USA
    e-mail: Email: jerzy@golemxiv.dh.mco.edu
  3. Department of Chemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390, USA

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