The interplay of exercise and green tea: a new road in cancer therapy

Abstract

Exercise is one of the most important activities for every individual due to its proven health beneficials. Several investigations have highlighted the advantageous impacts of aerobic exercise, largely attributed to its capacity to enhance the body's capability to defend against threats against oxidative stress. The information currently accessible suggests that adding regular aerobic exercise to a daily routine greatly decreases the chances of developing serious cancer and passing away. An unevenness in the levels of free radicals and the body's antioxidant defenses, made up of enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidants, results in oxidative pressure. Generally, an imbalance in the levels of oxidative stress triggers the creation of harmful reactive oxygen or nitrogen compounds, causing the development or progression of numerous ailments, including cancer. The equilibrium between pro-oxidant and antioxidant substances is a direct indicator of this imbalance. Green tea and its derivatives are rich sources of bioactive substances such as flavonoids and polyphenols which possess antioxidant abilities. Moreover, modulation of epigenetic targets as well as inflammatory pathways including ERK1/2 and NF-κB are other proposed mechanisms for its antioxidant activity. Recent studies demonstrate the promise of green tea as an antioxidant, showing its ability to decrease the likelihood of developing cancer by impacting actions like cell growth, blood vessel formation, and spread of cancer cells. This summary will concentrate on the complex network of different pathways related to physical activity and consumption of green tea. In particular, the focus of this research will be on examining how oxidative stress contributes to health and investigating the potential antioxidant properties of green tea, and the interconnected relationship between exercise and green tea in the treatment of cancer. Elucidation of these different pathways would help scientists for development of better therapeutic targets and further increase of current anticancer agents efficiency.

Keywords: Cancer; Exercise; Green tea.

Fig. 1

A visual depiction of various forms of polyphenols. These compounds all share a similar three-membered flavan ring system

Fig. 2

The polyphenols are known to have numerous anti-cancer benefits, such as pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic, epigenetic, and anti-oxidant effects

Fig. 3

Physical exercise plays multiple important roles in both preventing and treating cancer. These roles encompass mitigating negative effects associated with cancer treatment, amplifying the effectiveness of cancer treatment, and decreasing the likelihood of developing cancer. These beneficial effects are achieved through various mechanisms including inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, promoting cell death, regulating cancer cell metabolism, and modulating the immune system to create an optimal environment for fighting cancer. adiporR1 = adiponectin receptor 1; Akt = protein kinase B; AMPK = AMP-activated protein kinase; β-blocker = beta-adrenageic receptor block; CD = cluster of differentiation; Clr-b = C-type lectin-related protein B; D2 = dopamine receptor 2; H60a = the minor histocompatibility antigen 60; Hippo = serine/threonine-protein kinase hippo; IGF1 = insulin-like growth factor-1; IL-6 = interleukin 6; LDH = lactate dehydrogenase; MiT-TFE = microphthalmia/transcription factor E; microphthalmia/transcription factor E; mTOR = mammalian target of rapamycin; mTORC1 = mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1; NK = natural killer; NKG2D = natural killer group 2 member D; P27ph = cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor phosphorylation; PI3K/Akt = phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B; Ras/MAPK = rat sarcoma/mitogen-activated protein kinase; SPARC = secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine; T cell = thymus dependent lymphocyte; TGF-β1 = the kinase phosphorylation and transforming growth factor-β1; VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor; YAP/TAZ ph = phosphorylation of yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with (postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), discs-large, zona occludens 1 (ZO-1))PDZ-binding motif