Green tea beneficial in lung-cancer study

LOS ANGELES, March 14 (UPI) -- Green tea extract promotes a chemical reaction in a lung cancer cell protein that may prevent cancer, says a California researcher.

The active constituents of green tea -- polyphenols -- are recognized antioxidants, but their potency against cancer is unclear, according to Qing-Yi Lu and colleagues at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Green tea extract promotes a positive chemical reaction in the cell protein actin during the early stages of cancer development, according to the study published online in Laboratory Investigation.

The authors stress further research and clinical trials are needed to determine how their findings relate to actual green tea consumption.