[Effects of tea on DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamsters]

The preventive effects of green tea, tea pigments and mixed tea (a composite of whole water extract from green tea, tea polyphenols, and tea pigments) on 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene(DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in golden Syrian hamsters were studied. The hamsters were divided into five groups. i.e. the positive control group(the right buccal pouches of animal was topically treated with 0.5% DMBA in acetone three times per week for 15 weeks), three tea treated groups(1.5% green tea, 0.1% tea pigments and 0.5% mixed tea as the sole source of drinking water from two weeks before starting the DMBA treatment to the end of the experiment) and the negative control group(acetone applied topically). The results showed that in the 1.5% green tea, 0.1% tea pigments and 0.5% mixed tea groups, the inhibitory rates of the average number of tumor per hamster were 42.6%, 50.8% and 67.2% respectively, and the mean tumor burdens were 79% 89% and 95% respectively, compared with the positive control group. In the three tea groups, the frequency of micronucleated cells, the number of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and the level of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) expression in the oral mucosa cells were also less than those in the positive control group. These results clearly indicated that the mixed tea could effectively inhibit DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamsters. The mixed tea was more effective than green tea or tea pigments in this animal model. Protection of DNA from damage by carcinogen and suppression of cell proliferation was considered as important mechanisms of the anticarcinogenic effects of the mixed tea preparations.