抹茶可醫乳癌？英研究發現抹茶可令乳癌細胞休眠死去
19:21 2018/09/02

英國一項研究發現，抹茶萃取物可破壞乳癌細胞。

乳癌是香港女性頭號癌症，一旦不幸患上乳癌，可能需切除乳房作出治療。日本人喜愛的抹茶是綠茶的一種，英國一項最新研究發現，抹茶的萃取物可破壞乳癌細胞，壓抑它們獲得能量，令乳癌細胞「休眠」然後死去，研究人員形容，抹茶深具「治療潛力」。

位於英國大曼徹斯特的索爾福德大學（University of Salford）研究團隊，早前已發現伯爵茶中的成分「佛手柑」，可殺死癌症幹細胞。今次再以抹茶針對乳癌幹細胞進行研究，結果發現抹茶萃取物，能夠抑制乳癌幹細胞內的線粒體（mitochondria）進行新陳代謝，最後讓癌細胞變得不活躍，繼而死亡。

另外，抹茶萃取物亦可削弱癌細胞當中的核糖體（ribosome）組成物，降低癌細胞製造蛋白質的能力。研究發表於科學期刊《Aging》上，研究人員認為研究結果令人期待，科學家亦積極找尋治療癌症的方式。

主導研究的利桑蒂教授（Professor Michael Lisanti）表示，抹茶是天然產品，若作為膳食補充劑，具有很大的治療潛力。

不過，英國癌症研究組織專家萊德威克（Martin Ledwick）指出，即使研究顯示抹茶可以殺死實驗室裡培養的乳癌細胞，但與喝茶有很大的不同，現在仍沒有證據顯示，抹茶對癌症有療效，尚待臨床測試驗證。

據香港癌症資料統計中心2017年公佈的數據顯示，乳癌由1993年起成為香港女性頭號癌症。在1993至2015年間，本港女性確診乳癌的個案增加三倍，由每年的1,152宗增至每年3,900宗，平均每天有10名女士確診。

Could matcha green tea be used to treat cancer? ‘Striking’ results show it kills cancer cells by stopping them from refuelling

• Matcha tea has long been hailed as having several beneficial health properties

• Lab trials have shown the bitter tasting tea can keep cancer stem cells dormant

• Scientists assessed the effects of a matcha extract on breast cancer stem cells

It’s long been hailed as having beneficial health properties, such as aiding weight loss.

But matcha green tea could be used to treat cancer – not just shed the pounds from your stomach, according to new research.

Laboratory trials have revealed the bitter tasting tea can keep cancer cells dormant, by knocking out their energy supply, stopping them from ‘refuelling’.

University of Salford researchers have branded their results ‘striking’, as scientists continue to hunt down cures for cancer.

They assessed the effects of a matcha extract on breast cancer stem cells – which can transform into any tumour cell, divide and renew themselves.

Laboratory trials have revealed the bitter tea can keep cancer cells dormant, by knocking out their energy supply

The team delved into its effects by using metabolic phenotyping, a scientific process that examines how compounds directly impact cells.

Through that, they found matcha tea extract suppresses the metabolism of mitochondria, considered the powerhouse of each cell.

Professor Michael Lisanti, who led the study, revealed the extract had shifted the cancer cells towards a ‘quiescent metabolic state’.

He added: ‘In other words, it [matcha] is preventing the cells from “refuelling” and therefore they [cancer cells] become inactive and die.’

The results were published in the scientific journal Aging.

The researchers analysed how matcha strikes the cancer cells in hope of shining further light of its potential cancer-fighting properties.

They uncovered evidence it ‘strongly affected’ the mTOR signalling pathway, known to play a critical role in the metabolism of cancer cells.

The matcha extract also weakened components of a ribosome – which synthesise most of the proteins required by cells for their survival.

Matcha could, in the future, be used in the same way as rapamycin – a drug that switches off the mTOR pathway, the researchers hope.

Professor Lisanti added: ‘Matcha green tea is a natural product used as a dietary supplement with great potential for a range of treatments.

‘The effects on human breast cancer cells were very striking; the active ingredients in matcha having a surgical effect in knocking out certain signalling pathways.

‘Our results are consistent with the idea that matcha may have significant therapeutic potential, mediating the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells.’

Professor Lisanti and colleagues have previously found that bergamot, the ingredient in Earl Grey tea, kills cancer stem cells.

Matcha is a type of green tea in a powdered form. It originates from Japan, where it’s best known for its use in tea ceremonies.

Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse, said: ‘There is no strong evidence that green tea can help treat cancer in patients.

‘Although this early study shows that matcha green tea can kill breast cancer cells grown in the lab, this is very different to drinking the tea.

‘Other early stage research suggests that extracts from green tea could stop cancer cells from growing.

‘But at the moment the evidence is not strong enough to know this for sure and we need verification from human studies to prove this.’

WHAT IS MATCHA TEA?

Matcha tea is a type of green tea in a powdered form.

It originates from Japan, where it’s best known for its use in tea ceremonies.

Matcha, other green teas and regular (black) tea are actually made from the same plant – Camellia sinensis.

Most green teas are simply made by steaming fresh Camellia leaves, but making matcha tea involves a more complex process.

It’s made only from the fresh leaf tips.

The plants are shaded from the sun between the time when the new leaf shoots start to appear and when they are picked.

The shade is said to increase the content of chlorophyll and other nutrients, including the amino acid L-theanine (more on L-theanine below).

After picking the best leaves, they’re steamed, gently air-dried, and then ground into a fine powder, removing any fibres.

文章來自: Topick (中) / dailymail (Eng)

https://topick.hket.com/article/2152083/抹茶可醫乳癌？英研究發現抹茶可令乳癌細胞休眠死去

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6118469/Could-matcha-green-tea-used-treat-cancer.html