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The Effect of Epigallocatechin Galleate, Black Tea Extract and Sarcophytol A on DNA Strand Breakage Induced by Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines and Stimulated Human Phagocytes

Issue: Vol.4, No.2 - April 2005

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Article Type: Manuscript

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  1. Dr Alan B Weitberg
    MD
    Chairman of Medicine, Roger Williams Medical Center
  2. Dr Donna Corvese
    Division of Heamatology/Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center and The Departments of Medicine Brown University School of Medicine and Boston University Medical Center

The tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are metabolites of nicotine and are major carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Chronic inflammation may promote the carcinogenic effect of these nitrosamines through the generation of oxygen radicals as evidenced by an increase in DNA strand breakage in cultured human lung cells treated with stimulated human phagocytes and TSNAs. Sarcophytol A(SaA), a simple monohydroxycem-bratetraene isolated from marine soft coral - epigallocatechin galleate (EGCG), one of the main constituents of green tea, and black tea extract (BTE) all inhibit tumor promotion. To evaluate their effect on TSNA-induced genetic damage, cultured human lung cells were pretreated with SaA, EGCG, or BTE, and then exposed to the TSNA -4 - (N-methyl-N-nitrosamino )-1-(3pyridyl)-1- butanone (NNK) and stimulated human phagocytes and then assayed for single strand DNA breaks. SaA, EGCG and BTE provided significant protection against the induction of genetic damage in these cells and proved useful in the chemo-prevention of tobacco-induced carcinogenesis.

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