Green tea fights 'incurable' common form of leukemia

27 May 2009

Green tea may be able to combat leukemia. The tea reduces lymph node sizes in cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common type of the cancer, and for which there is no cure.

Researchers believe its active ingredient – epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – could be a cancer-fighter. They tested the ingredient on 33 CLL patients, who were given eight different doses of Polyphenon E, whose primary active ingredient is EGCG. Doses ranged from 400 mg to 2000 mg twice a day. Even at the highest dose patients were reporting no ill effects, and reported a substantial reduction in lymph node size.

(Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology, May 26, 2009; doi:10.1200/JCO.2008.20.9908).

Green tea fights 'incurable' common form of leukemia

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