EFFECT OF TEA OR COFFEE EXTRACT ON THE GROWTH OF EHRLICH ASCITES-CARCINOMA IN MICE

Extracts of tea and coffee or caffeine reduced the transplantability a s well as viability of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice in vivo . Pre-treatment of EAC cells with tea or coffee extract or with caffei ne also reduced the transplantability as well as viability of EAC in m ice. This effect seemed to be irreversible as washing of EAC cells fol lowing pre-treatment with tea or coffee extract or with caffeine could not abolish the effect. This may be correlated with the antitumour ef fect of caffeine.