Prevention of cytotoxicity and inhibition of intercellular communication by antioxidant catechins isolated from Chinese green tea.

An antioxidant fraction of Chinese green tea, containing several catechins, has been previously shown to inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced tumor promotion in mouse skin and was shown to have antioxidative activity toward hydrogen peroxide and the superoxide radical.