Research at the University of Wisconsin (1) has found an antioxidant present in green tea to be useful against malignant melanoma, the type of skin cancer with the highest mortality rate. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the a polyphenolic antioxidant present in green tea decreased growth and proliferation of melanoma cells in vitro. The authors conclude that "EGCG, alone or in conjunction with current therapies, could be useful for the management of melanoma".



Melanoma accounts for only about 4% of all skin cancer cases, but most of skin cancer-related deaths. Although most types of cancer are more common in individuals of blood group A and AB, those of blood group O tend to have a lower survival rate from melanoma (2).



References:



1. Nihal M, Ahmad N, Mukhtar H, Wood GS.

Anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on human melanoma: Possible implications for the chemoprevention of melanoma.

Int J Cancer. 2005 Apr 20;114(4):513-21.

PMID 15609335



2. Pathbase