Making your bladder gladder: green tea may prevent inflammation

Herbal agents characteristically found in green tea could be used to effectively treat inflammatory bladder diseases at any age.

Green tea is rich in powerful antioxidants that make it a possible remedy for many medical conditions. It is comprised of catechins – plant metabolites that provide it with many anti-oxidative properties.

“We discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide,” said Dr Michael B Chancellor, professor of urology and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“Although further studies are needed, these results indicate herbal supplements from green tea could be a treatment option for various bladder conditions that are caused by injury or inflammation.”

In the study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, normal and cancerous bladder cells were exposed to two major catechin components of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), for 23 hours.

Both significantly protected cell lines from exposure to hydrogen peroxide, which damages or kills cells. The concentrations of EGCG and ECG used in the study were at levels that may be achieved through simple drinking.