A particular antioxidant in green tea can increase the levels of a natural anticancer protein, known as the 'guardian of the genome'.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousIt is rich in antioxidants, improves brain function and burns fat: green tea is now rightly counted among the elixirs of life, but it still holds new surprises. One of his particular antioxidant it can increase the levels of a natural anticancer protein, known as the 'guardian of the genome', due to its ability to repair DNA damage or destroy cancerous cells.
This is stated by a study published in Nature Communications that green tea started from the assumption that green tea is a popular drink consumed all over the world with proven inhibitory effects against various types of cancer, such as breast, lung, cancer. prostate and colon.
Read also: Green tea: a natural concentrate of antioxidants
Most of the chemo-preventive effects of green tea on cancer are attributed to polyphenolic compounds, with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) being the most prominent. EGCG accounts for 50-80% of the catechin in green tea. There are 200-300mg of EGCG in a prepared cup (240ml) of green tea.
A systematic review
The newly published research focuses on the direct interaction between p53 and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and points to the discovery of cancer drugs.
“Both p53 and EGCG molecules are extremely interesting. Mutations in p53 are found in over 50% of human cancers, while EGCG is the main antioxidant in green tea, a popular drink around the world, ”explains Chunyu Wang, author and professor of biological sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic. Institute. We now discover that there is a direct and previously unknown interaction between the two, indicating a new path for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Our work helps to explain how EGCG is able to increase the anti-cancer activity of p53, opening the door to the development of drugs with compounds similar to EGCG ”.
As is known, P53 has several anti-cancer functions, including stopping cell growth to allow DNA repair, activating DNA repair, and initiating programmed cell death, called apoptosis, if the DNA damage cannot be repaired. One end of the protein, known as N-terminal domain, has a flexible shape and therefore can perform different functions depending on its interaction with multiple molecules.
The results showed that the interaction between EGCG and P3 preserves the protein from degradation. Typically, after being produced inside the body, this protein is rapidly degraded when the N-terminal domain interacts with a protein called MDM2. This regular cycle of production and degradation keeps p53 levels at a constant low.
“Both EGCG and MDM2 bind at the same point on p53, the N-terminal domain, so EGCG competes with MDM2 - they conclude. When EGCG binds with p53, the protein is not degraded through MDM2, so the level of p53 will increase with direct interaction with EGCG, meaning there is more p53 for anti-cancer function. This is a very important interaction ”.
Fonte: Nature Communications
On green tea you might also be interested in:
- Drinking green tea regularly protects the heart and extends life, the new confirmation
- This drink helps you burn fat… while you sleep!
- Green tea really burns fat and counteracts obesity. But how much to take?
- Green Tea: Does It Really Help You Lose Weight?
- Green tea: beware of bottled products and poor quality tea
- Green tea: 3 spicy variants of the classic drink
