Can Oolong Tea Inhibit Growth of Breast Cancer?
Posted: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Oolong tea seems to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, and its consumption may lower the risk of breast cancer. According to a recent study by Chunfa Huang, PhD, of Saint Louis University, and colleagues, published in Anticancer Research, oolong tea extracts demonstrated potent anticancer properties when applied to breast cancer cells in vitro. These findings are consistent with epidemiologic analyses showing that people in Fujian, China (where the vast majority of oolong tea is produced) had lower incidences and rates of deaths due to breast cancer.
“From our results, oolong tea, much like green tea, plays a role in inhibiting breast cancer cell growth, proliferation, and tumor progression,” stated Dr. Huang in an institutional press release.
Six different breast cancer cell lines were tested in this study: two estrogen receptor–positive and progesterone receptor–positive (MCF-7 and T47D); one HER2-positive (SKBR3); and three triple-negative (MDAMB-231, MDA-MB-436. and MDA-MB-468). All of the cell lines were treated with oolong (Tieguanyin and Dahongpao), green, black, and pu’er tea extracts.
Oolong and green tea extracts inhibited the viability and proliferation of all breast cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion. Morphologic changes were observed as well; oolong and green tea alone caused plasma membrane damage, cell shrinkage, and cell detachment in all six cell lines. DNA-damage assays showed only oolong and green teas could induce elevated rates of H2AX phosphorylation in MCF-7, T47D, and SKBR3 cells.
Based on 2014 data from the Chinese and Fujian province cancer registry annual report, the investigators observed that both the incidence and death rate of breast cancer in the Fujian province were lower than the national averages. Furthermore, high consumers of oolong tea had a 50% lower incidence of breast cancer than the national average. And the death rate of these high consumers of oolong tea was 68% lower than the national average.
Disclosure: The study authors’ disclosure information may be found at ar.iiarjournals.org.