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Review
. 2013 Jun 28;334(1):79-85.
doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.01.051. Epub 2013 Feb 8.

Cancer prevention by tocopherols and tea polyphenols

Chung S Yang  1 , Guangxun Li  2 , Zhihong Yang  2 , Fei Guan  2 , Amber Chen  2 , Jihyeung Ju  3
Affiliations
Review

Cancer prevention by tocopherols and tea polyphenols

Chung S Yang et al. Cancer Lett. .

Abstract

Tocopherols (vitamin E) and tea polyphenols have been reported to have cancer preventive activities. Large-scale human trials with high doses of alpha-tocopherol, however, have produced disappointing results. This review presents data showing that - and -tocopherols inhibit colon, lung, mammary and prostate carcinogenesis in animal models, whereas -tocopherol is ineffective in animal and human studies. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed. A broad cancer preventive activity of green tea polyphenols has been demonstrated in animal models, and many mechanisms have been proposed. The cancer preventive activity of green tea in humans, however, has not been conclusively demonstrated and remains to be further investigated.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structures of tocopherols
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structure of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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