U.S.A. News Team (Originally in English)

Although previous research had established that drinking more than four cups of green tea per day seemed to lower the risk of cancer, no one understood why. Recently, however, Purdue University researchers Dorothy and D. James Morre have linked EGCg, a compound found in green tea, with anti-cancer effects. Their research results were presented on December 14, 1999 at the 38th annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco.

According to their study, EGCg inhibits the activity of tNOX, an enzyme required for cancer cell growth. When tNOX activity is inhibited, cancerous cells eventually die. The researchers also found that while EGCg can kill cultured cancer cells, it has no ill effects on healthy cells.

In addition, the researchers discovered that green tea leaves are rich in the anti-cancer compound EGCg. Their findings suggest that the cancer-fighting properties of EGCg, along with its high concentrations in green tea, might explain why drinking more than four cups of green tea a day can slow or even prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Source of information:
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/9901.Morre.greentea.html