Scientists have developed a way to manufacture, some nanoparticles that destroy up to 80% of cancer cells from their extract.
Tea leaves not only serve to prepare one of the most popular infusions in the world: its extract also allows the production of nanoparticles that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and even kills them, a group of British and Indian microbiologists has discovered.
On Monday the website of the University of Swansea (United Kingdom), the main research site, quantum dots can be produced chemically, but the technology is complicated, expensive and has harmful side effects to the human body.
"Our research has confirmed the previous evidence that tea leaf extract can be a non-toxic alternative for making quantum dots with chemicals," said the project's principal investigator, Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu. "The real surprise, however, was that the spots strongly inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells. We did not expect it. "