The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7213 p270
31 August 2002

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Caffeine could prevent skin cancer

Topical applications of caffeine have been successfully used to destroy skin cancer cells in laboratory mice (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences early online edition, www.pnas.org). Both caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate, two components of green tea, selectively destroyed tumours and inhibited cancer formation in hairless mice exposed to ultraviolet B radiation. The researchers conclude caffeine has the advantage because it is more chemically stable.