Potent suppressive activity of chlorophyll a and b from green tea (Camellia sinensis) against tumor promotion in mouse skin

J UOEH. 1998 Sep 1;20(3):181-8. doi: 10.7888/juoeh.20.181.

Abstract

Potent antigenotoxic and anti-tumor promoting activities of chlorophyll a from green tea (camellia sinensis) have been shown using in vitro cell culture experiments (Okai Y. et al. (1996) Mutation Res., 370, 11-17). In the present study, the authors analyzed in vivo effects of chlorophyll a and b from green tea on tumor promotion in mouse skin in the following ways. 1. When chlorophyll a and b from green tea were applied before each treatment by a tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on BALB/c mouse skin initiated by 7, 12-dimethylbenz [a] an-thracene (DMBA), they caused significant suppression in a dose-dependent manner against BALB/c mouse skin tumorigenesis. 2. Chlorophyll a and b showed significant suppressive effects against TPA-induced inflammatory reaction such as edema formation in BALB/c mouse ear skin in a dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that chlorophyll a and b possess potent suppressive activities against tumor promotion in mouse skin.

MeSH terms

  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • Animals
  • Carcinogens / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Chlorophyll / isolation & purification
  • Chlorophyll / pharmacology*
  • Chlorophyll A
  • Edema / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Pigments, Biological / isolation & purification
  • Pigments, Biological / pharmacology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Tea / chemistry*
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Tea
  • Chlorophyll
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • chlorophyll b
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
  • Chlorophyll A