Chemopreventive Efficacy of Medicinal Tea Compounds Against Hypoxia and Angiogenesis in Oral Tumors

Abstract

Hypoxia and aberrant angiogenesis are common features of oral cancers, which encourage growth and resistance to treatment. Rich in polyphenols, medicinal teas modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular signaling to provide chemopreventive benefits. The present research investigates the chemopreventive efficacy of selected medicinal tea compounds on hypoxia and angiogenesis markers in oral tumors. The primary aim is to evaluate whether regular administration of these compounds can attenuate hypoxic conditions and inhibit neovascularisation in preclinical oral tumor models. Data were gathered using laboratory-based cell culture models, where oral epithelial cells were exposed to conditions promoting hypoxia and angiogenesis to evaluate the effects of medicinal tea compounds (MTC). Bioactive tea compounds were administered at graded concentrations (low, medium, high) for defined time periods to assess dose-dependent responses. Analytical assessment involved dimensions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, and related angiogenic markers using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and quantitative PCR. Statistical analyses, including post hoc Tukey tests and ANOVA, were performed using IBM SPSS software to determine significance at p < 0.05. Results show that higher doses of medicinal tea compounds markedly reduced HIF-1α and VEGF expression compared to untreated controls. While apoptosis significantly increased with increasing drug concentration, a density of micro in tumor tissues reduced, suggesting that hypoxia and angiogenesis were effectively modulated. These results demonstrate the powerful chemopreventive effects of medicinal tea components in the development of oral cancers