Abstract
Epidemiological studies have provided evidence to show that the consumption of coffee and green tea has beneficial effects against cancer. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) in coffee and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) in tea are involved in these effects. Research also suggests that the anticancer effects of coffee and tea may vary depending on the type of cancer, although the reasons for this remain unclear. As bioactive food factors, CGA and EGCG can contribute to epigenetic modification to exert their anticancer activity. One of the anticancer mechanisms is the one associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS). CGA and EGCG possess activities that initiate anticancer pathways by down-regulating ROS and NF-κB, and up-regulating AMPK. CGA and EGCG can regulate non-coding RNAs, including cancer-associated microRNAs. This review provides updated information on how CGA and EGCG exhibit anticancer activity via ROS-dependent anticancer pathways by regulating microRNA expression.