Green tea extract active against Alzheimer's proteins and cancer cells even after simulated 'digestion'.

Almost all chemicals taken into the body are modified and broken down during digestion in the stomach and intestines or after absorption.  Because of this, experiments on cancer drugs and possible cancer prevention agents that work well in laboratories may not work as well in humans.

Researchers in the UK and India looked at whether digestion affected the chemicals (polyphenols) in green tea that are thought to have anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer's activity.  The results showed that the active agents were present even after digestion.  The extract was able to protect neural cells and had activity against cancer cells.