Topical Tea May Reduce Skin Cancer Risk 30377

Topical Tea May Reduce Skin Cancer Risk

AUSTIN, Minn.By blocking aspecific enzyme in the skin, tea polyphenols may be able to reduce the risk ofskin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States. Researchers from theUniversity of Minnesota in Austin found a topical cream made with teapolyphenols may work alone or combined with sunscreen to maximize cancerprotection. Their presentation was given at the 226th national meeting ofthe American Chemical Society (www.chemistry.org), held Sept. 7 to 11 in NewYork.

In a mouse model of skin cancer, researchers found topicallyapplied green tea polyphenols decreased levels of JNK-2, an enzyme known toincrease in the skin after sun exposure and increase the chance that cancer willdevelop. By reducing JNK-2, the skins response to UV light was delayed orblocked.

The Minnesota team is working to create a cream that containstea polyphenols and will protect against skin cancer. The cream is beingdesigned for application after exposure to excessive sun. Some skin creams onthe market already contain tea polyphenols although, according to researchers,these products are unlikely to have undergone testing and may containnon-uniform amounts of tea antioxidants.

Previous research has indicated tea consumption may alsoprotect against skin cancer (Cancer Res, 61, 13:5002-9, 2001), althoughresearchers stated topical application is probably a better approach.