1. Green Tea: The Benefits
by Jourdan Wong
August 20, 2008
Dr. Gopalakrishna

2. Green Tea: What is it?
• Green Tea is a drink made from some form of Camellia sinensis. During
processing, there must have been minimal oxidation. (IOW it’s electron
number should not change much during chemical reactions). The fact that
it is steamed and NOT fermented during processing is CRUCIAL to its
ability to provide health benefits.
• It is closely associated with such cultures as the Chinese, Japanese, East
Indians, and even the Middle East.
• First discovered in China some 5,000 years ago and has been used as a
natural medicine for nearly as long.

3. Chemical Properties of Green Tea
• EGCG= epigallocatechin gallate -> Acts as
an antioxidant by trapping proxyl radicals
and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
• Can also produce oxidant radicals under
certain conditions.

4. Effects of Green Tea on PC-12 Cells
Control: Neither Nerve
Growth Factor nor
EGCG is present.
Synapse is not
occurring, no visible
neurides.
2 ng/ml NG: Not much
happening. Needs 50 ng
for it to work. Does not
occur at an injury site.
EGCG: By itself, not
much happening.
EGCG+NGF: at
relatively low amounts
synapse can occur.

5. The Mechanism of Green Tea
CREB
= Cyclic AMP Responsive Element
Binding Protein
NGF=neurotrophin, a stimulator of
neurons.
Neurotogenesis= Generations of
neurides. After CREB is activated and
enhances transcription phase, proteins
are made.
These proteins make more neurons.

6. Green Tea Activates ERK
The strength of color
of the bands indicates
the activation of ERK.
It must be
phosphorylated for
the bands to even
appear.
Detected by
chemilumenescence.

7. Medical Research Part 1
• Green Tea polyphenols (EGCG) are currently believed to be a cancer
chemopreventatives. In my research, prostate cancer is of interest.
• Cancer prevention does not equal the “cure for cancer.” In fact, there
probably isn’t a “cure for cancer.” It would be various cures for different
cancers.
• EGCG has been showing signs of being a powerful antioxidant that
protects ATPase against oxidative stress.
• Green Tea has been marketed as having the following positive effects on
the body: correlated to lower levels of heart disease, good for your teeth
Seems to aid in the evasion of these types of cancers: Skin, Prostate
• Green Tea is even being advertised as a weight loss gimmick that is being
labeled a “Chinese secret that celebrities know about.”

8. Medical Research Part 2
• In the ancient days, green tea has been used to control bleeding,
regulate body temperature, blood sugar, and to enhance digestion.
• Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea) in 1191->claims green tea has positive
effect on 5 vital organs, esp.the heart. Supposedly eases alcohol, is a
stimulant, fixes blotchiness, quenches thirst, cures beriberi disease,
prevents fatigue, helps digestion and urine, and improves brain
function.
• The FDA is very reluctant to sanction any claims that green tea has
any health benefits.
• There are numerous modern scientific studies that have been done
and are being done that support the ideas that 1) It reduces the
chances of certain cancers and 2) Can provide other health benefits
not related to cancer.
• “Asian Paradox” A Yale research team noted that people from East
Asia seem to have less of a chance of contracting (lung?) cancer
when about 75% of the population smokes.

9. Controversy
• FDA refuses to support any modern claims to health benefits despite
scientific evidence to the contrary.
• “Unproven” Claims:
– Helps against Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s
– Treats Multiple Sclerosis
– Cancer curing and prevention
– Prevents degradation of cell membranes
– Lowers bad cholesterol
– Increases fat oxidation/ metabolism
– Lots of caffeine in green tea, but not as much as coffee. Both can cause nausea,
insomnia, and frequent urination.
• It is hypothesized that too much Green Tea leads to cancer. It should be
noted that opponents to this stance say it is the scalding heat of the tea
that causes the throat cancer.

10. What I Learned
• Western Blot: A basic procedure used in various labs for indication of a
protein. Involves a complex set of steps.
• MTT (Cell Toxicity)
• Cell Division/Culture
• Protein Estimation Assay
• Bradford Assay
• Sulfurhodamine Technique
With that being said, thank you Dr. G and USC!