Green tea extract fights genital and perianal warts

WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study found that topical sinecatechins, a defined green tea extract, is effective at treating external genital and perianal warts.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 502 men and women aged 18 or older who had 2 to 30 anogentital warts ranging from 12 to 600 square mm total wart area.

For the trial, researchers applied 15% or 10% sinecatechins ointment or placebo three times a day for a maximum of 16 weeks or until all warts were completely eliminated. Afterwards, all subjects were followed for 12 weeks without treatment to assess recurrence.

The researchers from Colombia, Germany, and California found that complete clearance of all baseline and newly occurring warts occurred in 57.5% and 56.3% of those who received 15% and 10% sinecatechins ointment respectively, compared to 33.7% of those receiving a placebo.  

Significant results were observed at weeks 4 and 6 and thereafter.

A 50% clearance was experienced by 78.4% and 74.0% of patients who used the sinecatechins ointment, compared to 51.5% of the patients on the placebo.

The sinecatechins ointment also reduced the recurrence rate of warts. Recurrence of any warts was found in 6.5% and 8.3% in the 15% and 10% sinecatechins groups respectively, compared to 8.8% among the placebo group.

Mild application site reactions occurred in 8.7% and 8.73% of the sinecatechins ointment 15% and 10% groups respectively compared to 72.1% in the placebo group.

The authors of the trial report conclude that topical sinecatechins ointment is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of anogenital warts.

 

Source:

Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;111:1371-1379

Sinecatechins, a Defined Green Tea Extract, in the Treatment of External Anogenital Warts

A Randomized Controlled Trial

Silvio Tatti, MD(1), James M. Swinehart, MD(1), Claus Thielert, PhD(2), Hoda Tawfik, PhD(2), Axel Mescheder, MD(2) and Karl R. Beutner, MD, PhD(3)

From the (1)Hospital de Kennedy, Bogota, Colombia; (2)MediGene AG, Munich, Germany; and (3)Solano Clinical Research, Vallejo, California (now Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, California) and Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, California.

By David Liu, Ph. D., and edited by Heather Kelley.
Jun 11, 2008 - 3:43:54 PM