A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the United States, showed that catechin ester (EGCG), an active ingredient in green tea, can effectively control the condition of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which brings new hopes for conquering the disease . The results of the study were published in the recent online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
In clinical trials, researchers at the Mayo Clinic gave 33 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia 8 different doses of olyphenon E capsules (the main active ingredient of the drug is EGCG) twice a day, with doses ranging from 400 mg to 2000 Between milligrams. It was found that the number of lymphocytes in the patient was reduced by one third. In addition, the researchers also found that the patient has a strong tolerance for the capsule, even if it is as high as 2000 mg each time, it still does not reach the patient's maximum tolerated dose.
Researchers found that not only can patients tolerate this high-dose green tea extract, but many people’s chronic lymphocytic leukemia shows some improvement. In patients with enlarged lymph nodes, most people’s lymph nodes shrink by half. even more.
This clinical study is the latest initiative of the Mayo Clinic's research project on the effects of green tea extract on cancer cells over the years. Previous laboratory studies have proved that EGCG has the function of killing leukemia cancer cells. The study has now entered the second phase, and the number of patients participating in the subsequent clinical trials is roughly the same as the first phase. Everyone will take the same highest dose as in the original trial.
In the United States, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a common leukemia. Although blood tests can be used for early diagnosis in many cases, there is no effective treatment. Statistics show that about half of patients with the disease will die prematurely. Researchers hope that EGCG can stabilize the condition of patients with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or combine with other treatments to improve the therapeutic effect of the disease. (Source: Liu Haiying, Science and Technology Daily)