ABSTRACT
Cutaneous malignancies, including melanoma and nonmelanoma, represent a major public health problem, as the incidence of skin cancer is equivalent to the incidence of cancers in all other organs combined (Housman et al., 2003). It has been estimated that the annual cost of treating nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers in the United States is in the billions of dollars (www.cancer.org/statistics). e overexposure of the skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major etiologic factor for initiation of this disease. e depletion of the ozone layer that allows more solar UV radiation to reach the surface of the earth, the continuing increase in life expectancy, and the changing dietary habits and lifestyle appear to be contributing factors for the increasing risk of cutaneous malignancies. Effective chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents and strategies are urgently needed to address this health problem. One such strategy includes the regular consumption of those dietary phytochemicals that possess anticarcinogenic properties, and that can protect the skin from the risk of cutaneous malignancies. Naturally occurring phytochemicals, specifically phenolics, are widely distributed in plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, flowers, and bark. Important dietary sources of polyphenols, which are extensively studied, include grape seeds, grape skin, tea, apples, red wine, onions, and cacao (Nichols and Katiyar, 2010). ese polyphenols possess beneficial health effects of dietary sources. Among others, green tea is better known for its health benefits in many organs, as well as in general health. In this chapter, we will particularly discuss the prevention of UV-induced skin cancer by green tea polyphenols, with particular emphasis on their DNA repair abilities in UV-exposed skin.
