Cancer preventive and therapeutic effects of EGCG, the major polyphenol in green tea

(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major bioactive catechin in green tea (GT) has been studied for almost past thirty years as an agent initially for its cancer chemoprevention effects and then for its cancer chemotherapeutic ability. This agent has shown considerable anti-cancer effects in a variety of preclinical cell culture and animal model systems. However, its clinical application to human patients is hampered by a variety of reasons that includes its stability and bioavailability. As a result, an increased number of studies assessing the effects derived from the use of EGCG are been employed in combination with other agents or by utilizing innovative carrier settings. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the anticancer effects of EGCG and its effects with other combinations on different kinds of cancers. Further, we also present the available information for the possible mechanism of action of EGCG.