Researchers have shown that GECGC, a synthetic version of procyanidins, a class of flavanols, slowed the growth and accelerated the destruction of human tumors in laboratory studies, and may thus have potentials for cancer chemoprevention or even treatment. Flavanols are naturally found in fruits, vegetables and cocoa beans.

In these studies, the scientists tested the effects of three different doses of GECGC on the cancer cell lines - the first time that a synthetic cocoa derivative has been used to screen human cancer cell lines. None of the doses tested were extreme, Kim points out. "The effective concentrations were considered similar to what a person might eat or use," he says.

They found sensitivity to GECGC in both colon cancer cell lines they tested, in cervical cancer cells and in one line of leukemia, tumor cells. Other cell lines were resistant, including ovarian and prostate cancer cells.

GECGC displayed highest activity against colon cancer cells. Animal studies are underway to confirm data.

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