Green Tea is one of the most extensively, and successfully, researched herbs in the world today. It was first noticed several decades ago, that people involved in presenting the green tea ceremonies had remarkably low incidence of cancer. Hundreds of studies later, we now know that green tea, and in fact all tea (Camellia sinensis) as a wide range of beneficial properties for reducing risks of cancer, heart disease and liver disease, plus antioxidant properties, benefits for the skin and much more. Here is some of the recent research on tea and its antioxidant polyphenols.

Green Tea for HIV Treatment?

The green tea flavonoid EGCG has potential therapeutic value for treatment to for HIV-1 infection EGCG binds to the CD4 molecule on T-cells according to research conducted in 2006. “We have demonstrated clear evidence of high affinity binding of EGCG to the CD4 molecule. EGCG has potential use as an adjunctive treatment in HIV-1 infection.” Read more

Cardiovascular Benefits of EGCG

Recent research published in the American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology And Metabolism describes wide-ranging cardiovascular protective functions of a green tea polyphenol, EGCG. EGCG improved endothelial function and insulin sensitivity, reduced blood pressure and protected against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. The addition of improvements in insulin sensitivity to the cardiovascular benefits indicates the benefit of green tea polyphenols against metabolic syndrome with hypertension, insulin resistance and overweight. Read more

Green Tea Polyphenols (GTP) Against Skin Cancer

In studies conducted on human skin, green tea polyphenols prevented ultraviolet (UVB) induced chemical changes in the skin, which are considered to be mediators of UVB induced immunosuppression and skin cancer induction. GTP treated humans can prevented penetration of UV radiation, and protected against UVB-induced local as well as systemic immune suppression in laboratory animals. “These in vivo observations suggest that GTP is our photo protective and can be used as pharmacological agents for the prevention of solar UVB light induced skin disorders associated with immune suppression and DNA damage.” Read more

Green Tea Polyphenol EGCG Inhibits Breast Cancer

The incidence of late onset breast cancer has been increasing dramatically in the United States. Since genetic factors are believed to result primarily in early onset cases, accumulation of environmental toxins has been proposed as one factor in the increased incidence. Research reported in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrates that EGCG and protect mice against carcinogen induced breast tumors. The green tea polyphenol significantly decreased mammary tumor burden and invasiveness and significantly increased latency to the first tumor. The authors suggest “the ability of EGCG and other tea polyphenols to inhibit carcinogenesis make EGCG a good template for deriving small molecule drugs. Modifications and structure may improve the pharmacokinetics and effectiveness. As a readily available dietary substance, it holds promise for prevention of early-stage cancer.” Read more

Green Tea And Thermogenesis

The thermogenic effect of tea is generally attributed to its caffeine content. An article in Alternative Medicine Review reports that green tea extract stimulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis to an extent which is much greater than can be attributed to its caffeine content alone. Since polyphenols and caffeine inhibit different cellular reactions involving norepinephrine, the authors postulate that the combination of caffeine and polyphenols present in green tea extract “is effective in stimulating thermogenesis by relieving inhibition at different control points. Such a synergistic interaction between polyphenols and caffeine to augment and prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis could be of value in assisting the management of obesity.”
Green tea and thermogenesis: interactions between catechin-polyphenols, caffeine and sympathetic activity. Read more

Green Tea Anti-Inflammatory

Green tea polyphenols such as EGCG have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Prior research had shown that EGCG inhibits tumor necrosis factor through a mechanism that was thought to have implications for inflammation generally. Epidemiological studies link regular consumption of tea with decreased cancer risk and a reduction in mortality during the 12 month period following a heart attack. “Considerably less is known regarding the mechanisms by which tea confers these health benefits.” The present research demonstrates one important mechanism in the inhibition of interleukin-1 mediated signal transduction. “Given the long safety record of tea consumption, the use of EGCG and related compounds may represent a novel pharmacological strategy for the modulation of inflammation. EGCG and related compounds could potentially be used as a nutritional supplement in patients with inflammatory disease processes. The next steps to further substantiate these assertions are to test the efficacy of green tea derived polyphenols such as EGCG in animal models of inflammation associated organ injury and to further elucidate the mechanisms by which these compounds modulate no inflammatory signal transduction pathways.” Read more

Potent Suppressive Effect Of Green Tea Polyphenols On Tobacco Induced Mutagenicity

Research from India reported in Phytomedicine explored the anti-mutagenic activity of green tea. Using standard mutagenicity assays, a team of research demonstrated that green tea polyphenols could inhibit the mutagenicity of tobacco in a concentration-dependent manner. The polyphenols were also found to inhibit urinary mutagenicity in rats induced by tobacco extract. Thus “green tea has a dual action to bring about a reduction in the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of tobacco.” Read more

Green and Black Tea Against Prostate Cancer

Green and black tea have shown promise in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer. In this study, the relative prostate bioavailability of theaflavin was 70% higher than that of EGCG. “This is the first human study to show that tea polyphenols and theaflavins are bioavailable in the prostate where they may be active in the prevention of prostate cancer.”
The Journal of Nutrition. July 1, 2006. Aronson, William; Conde, Francisco; Et al; Niu, Yantao; Henning, Susanne M Read more

Green Tea Protects Against Skin Cancer

A study reported in the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated the promise of green tea polyphenols as anticarcinogenic agents to prevent the development of solar ultraviolet radiation induced skin cancer. Oral administration of green tea polyphenols reduced UVB induced tumor incidence by 35%, tumor multiplicity by 63%, and tumor growth by 55%. “GTP’s prevent UVB induced skin carcinogenesis.” Note that in this research, the tea extract was not applied topically (which has also been shown effective) but taken orally. “We found that oral administration of GTP’s resulted in significant protection against photo-carcinogenesis. This degree of prevention was less than that reported for topical application of EGCG. The chemo protective effects we observed were appreciable, however, and directly relevant because green tea is commonly consumed as a beverage. Thus administration of GTP’s as a beverage may serve as a complementary and alternative medicine for the prevention of skin cancer.” Read more

Green Tea Catechin Protect Against Hypoxia

Intermittent hypoxia is a feature of sleep disordered breathing, and impairs spatial learning and oxidative stress. In research conducted at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, oral green tea polyphenols reduced the spatial learning deficits and oxidative stress caused by intermittent hypoxia. “The potential therapeutic role of green tea polyphenols in sleep disordered breathing deserves further exploration.” Read more

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