Product Name:
Synonym:
Definition: Green Tea extract are majorly composed of
Chemical information disclosed as following table:
Phytochemical info of Green Tea:
What is Green Tea?.:
In 1992, global production of all tea was almost 2.5 million tons. The majority of tea production occurs in the subtropical areas of Asia, including China, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. More than 35 countries now produce tea, with India, China, and Sri Lanka the leaders. Black tea is the most produced, followed by oolong and jasmine tea. Besides the distinction between varieties of tea, the major difference between the type of teas is the processing method. Green tea leaves are picked and immediately sent to be dried or steamed to prevent fermentation, whereas black tea and other types are left to ferment after they are picked.
Green tea originated in China for medicinal purposes, and its first recorded use was 4,000 years ago. By the third century, it became a daily drink and cultivation and processing began. Today, China has hundreds of different types of green teas. Other producers of green tea include India, Indonesia, Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Raw Materials:
Green tea is made from the top two leaves and buds of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, of the family Theaceace and the order Theales. This order consists of 40 genera of trees or shrubs that have evergreen leaves, flowers with five sepal or leaf-like structures and petals. The genus Camellia consists of 80 species of East Asian evergreen shrubs and trees. Besides the leaves, other ingredients may be added to create special scents or flavors during the drying process, such as jasmine, flowers, or fruits.
The tea plant originates in an area between India and China. There are three main varieties of this plant~China, Assam, and Cambodia~and a number of hybrids in between. The China variety grows as high as 9 ft (2.7 m) and has an economic life of at least 100 years. The Assam variety is a tree that grows as high as 60 ft (18.3 m), with an economic life of 40 years dependent upon regular pruning and plucking. The 16 ft (4.9 m) high Cambodia variety is naturally crossed with other varieties.
Cultivation and harvesting:
A suitable climate for cultivation has a minimum annual rainfall of 45-50 in (114.3-127 cm). Tea soils must be acid since tea plants will not grow in alkaline soils. A desirable pH value is 5.8-5.4 or less. Tea can be cultivated up to 7,218.2 ft (2,200 m) above sea level and can grow between the equator and the forty-fifth latitude. The plants are reproduced through tile-laying or through seeds from trees that have grown freely.
A crop of 1,500 lb (681 kg) of tea per acre requires up to two workers per acre to pluck the tea shoots by hand and maintain the field. The tea plant is generally plucked every five to 10 days, depending on where it grows. The length of time needed for the plucked shoot to redevelop a new shoot ready for plucking varies according to the plucking system and the climatic conditions. Intervals of between 70-90 days are common.
Drying:
After the tea leaves are plucked, they must be dried to prevent fermentation, which stops any enzyme activity that causes oxidation. In China, green teas are often pan-fired in very large woks, over a flame or using an electric wok. The tea leaves must be stirred constantly for even drying. Withering is also used, which spreads the tea leaves on racks of bamboo or woven straw to dry in the sun or using warm air. Again, the leaves must be moved around to ensure uniform drying.
Shaping.:
In most countries, rolling or shaping green tea leaves is done by machinery. In China, high-end leaves are hand-rolled into various shapes, including curly, twisted, pointed, round, and more. Rolling the tea creates a distinctive look, as well as regulates the release of natural substances and flavor when it is steeped in the cup.
This machine consists of a spindle with finger-shaped extensions that stir the leaves while heated air (at 93.2~96.8 Deg F [34~36 Deg C]) is blown into the machine. Though the rolling temperature is automatically controlled by the computer, it is still important for the operator to touch the tea by hand to make sure it feels right.
Since the moisture level still varies for different parts of a leaf or from one leaf to another at the end of the first step, another rolling process takes place to uniformly distribute the remaining moisture in the leaves. This process rolls the leaves by pressing under a rotating disk to bring the moisture from the center of the leaves to the surface. The process is conducted at room temperature for 24 minutes.
Next, the leaves go to another rolling/drying machine, which uses a spinning pedal inside of a revolving drum to convert the leaves into a round shape. This process takes about 40 minutes. It is very important to take out the leaves at the same moisture level every time.
The tea leaves are removed from the previous machine, separated into small portions and placed in pots. They are gradually rolled into tiny round or needle shapes using a weight. This step takes 40 minutes and removes most of the moisture. The total process thus far takes about three hours compared to hand rolling and heating which can take up to 10 hours.
Final drying.:
The tea is spread on a caterpillar-type device and dried slowly to about 5% moisture content or less. At this stage the half-processed tea, called aracha, is shipped to tea merchants or wholesalers for final processing. Aracha is not uniform in size and still contains stems and dust.
Post-processing.:
After the tea is shipped to the wholesalers in China, it undergoes several other steps to produce the final product. A special machine grades and cuts the tea by particle size, shape, and cleanliness, depending on the final qualities desired. The machine uses mechanical sieves or sifters fitted with meshes of appropriate size, as well as cutting devices to achieve a quality tea. Another drying step follows to produce the aromatic flavor, followed by blending per customer's specifications, packing and finally shipping to retail shops. In other countries, similar sorting, weighing, and packaging steps occur after the shaping process.
The Future:
Though the health benefits of green tea have been known for centuries, recent research is providing concrete evidence of these benefits. Studies have shown that green tea can prevent cancer since it contains catechin, the major component of tea. A study in China showed that residents in areas devoted to green tea production in the area of JiangSu Province, who drink the tea daily, have a significantly lower death rate for all types of cancer compared to other regions.
These findings were supported by animal experiments that showed green tea reduced the growth of tumors. Other research has shown that green tea consumption may inhibit nitrosamine formation~known carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals.
Green tea catechin has also been shown to limit the excessive rise in blood cholesterol in both animals and humans, as well as prevent high blood pressure. Other benefits of catechin include killing bacteria and influenza viruses, preventing halitosis, inhibiting increase of blood sugar, and fighting cariogenic bacteria. Green tea (especially matcha) also contains important vitamins (C, B complex, and E), fluoride (for preventing cavities), amino acids (for lowering blood pressure), and polysaccharides (lowers blood sugar). Green tea is a strong antioxidant as well and is even more powerful than vitamin E or vitamin C due to the presence of polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Extracts of green tea may also make strains of drug-resistant bacteria that cause skin infections more sensitive to penicillin, British researchers report. The investigators also found that diluted tea extract acted synergistically with antibiotics, making them more potent against particular strains of this type of bacteria.
In addition to preventing or curing these more common diseases, preliminary research indicates the antiviral capability of green tea catechin may have some beneficial effect in fighting AIDS. Laboratory tests have verified that catechin can inhibit the activity of the AIDS virus. Instead of simply being known as a popular Chinese beverage, green tea may thus become an important "new" medicine of the twenty-first century for the entire world.
General Use.:
Approximately 2.5 million tons of tea are grown and produced worldwide on an annual basis. Written records date the use of the plant as a beverage since at least the tenth century B.C. in China, and it is thought to be close to 5,000 years old. Tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide (after water). It is also one of the most popular herbal infusions in existence¡ªdrunk regularly by over half the world population.
The polyphenols in green tea that act as antioxidants may actually inhibit the growth of existing cancer cells. In some animal studies, injections of tea extracts reduced the size of cancerous tumors in animals. The active agent that is thought to have this effect is an antioxidant, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
Recent clinical studies have also indicated that regular use of green tea may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including oral, skin, prostate, colon, stomach, and rectal. In one clinical trial, patients with pre-cancerous mouth lesions who were treated with green and black tea extracts achieved a 38% decrease in the number of pre-cancerous cells. Late in 2001, researchers acknowledged one reason for green tea's anticancer effect, but further human studies are needed to clearly define its role in cancer prevention.
The antioxidants in green tea may also be helpful in lowering cholesterol and preventing hardening of the arteries and ischemic heart disease. Low flavonoid intake has been linked to atherosclerosis in several studies. The data from one 1999 study, which followed more than 3,400 tea-drinking residents of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, concluded that regular, long-term tea consumption can have a protective effect against severe atherosclerosis.
Another preliminary study published in 1999 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that green tea extract may increase energy levels and promote fat oxidation, and consequently, may be a useful tool in weight control. A recent study, reported on in early 2002, showed that topically applied green tea extracts can reduce harmful effects of radiation from the sun. Further study might show that green tea polyphenol applications can help prevent sunburns.
In addition to polyphenols, green tea contains several minerals, including fluoride and aluminum. The fluoride in green tea may be useful in fighting tooth decay. Green tea is also an antibacterial agent, and can help to prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease by killing E. coli and streptococcus bacteria. This antibacterial action can also be effective in treating halitosis, or bad breath, by killing odor-causing bacteria.
As an herbal remedy, green tea is often recommended to ease stomach discomfort, vomiting, and to stop diarrhea. The antibacterial action of tea is useful in treating infections and wounds.
Preparations.:
Green tea leaves and tea bags can be purchased at most grocery, drug, and health food stores. It is graded by leaf size, with tea containing whole leaves and leaf tips considered the highest quality tea. Tea grades include Broken Orange, Pekoe, Broken Pekoe Souchong, Broken Orange Pekoe, Fannings, and Dust.
Although green tea is grown from a single plant, slight variations in tea processing (usually in the way the tea is rolled) have created a number of varieties of green tea. Popular green tea varieties include Gunpowder, Hyson, Dragonwell, Sencha, and Matcha.
Tea leaves should be kept in an air-tight container to retain flavor and prevent odors and moisture from being absorbed by the tea. It should also be stored in a cool place for no longer than six months before use.
The most common method of preparing green tea is as an infusion. The tea is mixed with boiling water, steeped for several minutes, and then strained or removed from the infusion before drinking. Approximately two teaspoons of loose tea, or a single tea bag, should be used for each cup of boiling water. A strainer, tea ball, or infuser can be used to immerse loose tea in the boiling water before steeping and separating it.
A second method of infusion is to mix loose tea with cold water first, bring the mixture to a boil in a pan or teapot, and then separate the tea from the infusion with a strainer before drinking.
Flavonoids:polyphenols with antioxidative properties,are released into the infusion as the tea steeps. The longer the steeping time, the more flavonoids are released by the tea leaves, although most will infuse into the water during the first five minutes of brewing. Longer steeping time also results in a higher caffeine content in the brewed tea.
Green tea leaves can be used in a poultice for treating insect bites and other skin irritations. Green tea leaves are chopped and boiled in water for two to three minutes. After the excess water is squeezed from the leaves, the green tea is applied to the area to be treated and wrapped in a bandage. Green tea also makes an effective astringent, and tea-soaked cloth or tea leaf poultice may help renew tired and puffy eyes.
The antibacterial activity of green tea also makes it appropriate for use in compresses for cuts and abrasions. A quick compress can be made by soaking a pad or bandage in hot tea, wringing out the excess fluid, and holding the pad firmly against the wound. Once the compress cools, the process can be repeated.
Precautions.:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes tea on their list of "Generally Recognized As Safe" substances. However, pregnant women and women who breast feed should consider limiting their intake of green tea because of its caffeine content. Tea can pass into breast milk and cause sleep disorders in nursing infants. Decaffeinated green tea is available that contains only trace amounts (5 mg or less) of caffeine. Women should check with their healthcare professional about drinking tea when pregnant or nursing.
Tea can stimulate the production of gastric acid, and individuals with ulcers may want to avoid drinking green tea for this reason. Those taking warfarin or any blood-thinning drugs should first consult with the physicians before consuming green tea, as it may counter the effects of the drug.
Side Effects.:
Green tea contains caffeine, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that can cause restlessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, tremor, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, and upset stomach. To avoid side effects, caffeine intake should be limited to 300 mg or less a day (the equivalent of 4¨C8 cups of brewed hot tea). Caffeine-free green tea preparations are available commercially.
The tannin in tea can cause nausea when drunk on an empty stomach and inhibit the absorption of nonheme iron. Individuals with iron-deficiency anemia who take iron supplements should avoid drinking green tea several hours before and after taking supplements. Iron absorption with tea can be increased by consuming foods rich in vitamin C with tea, such as a slice of lemon.
Research update of Camellia sinensis.Green Tea.Green Tea Polyphenols related.
Radical scavenging conserves from unused fresh green tea leaves.:J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Mar 7;55(5):1750-4. Epub 2007 Feb 7.Borse BB, Kumar HV, Rao LJ. Plantation Products, Spices and Flavour Technology Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India.[PMID: 17284052]
Green teas were made by inactivating the enzymes present in fresh leaves of coarse/pruned (unused) and normal (used for tea) grades using different sources of thermal energies. Green teas were extracted in a Soxhlet using different solvents. The obtained miscella was subjected to concentration to give the extract. The extract was subjected to solvent-solvent extraction. Solvent extract was concentrated to obtain conserve. The yields of conserves are 17 +/- 0.8 and 15 +/- 0.8% from green teas of normal and coarse tea leaves, respectively. The radical scavenging activity of these extracts was evaluated using a DPPH in vitro model system. The total polyphenol content was also determined and found to be higher in conserves from normal tea leaves. However, radical scavenging activity of conserves from coarse and normal green tea leaves was found to be >90% at 15 ppm concentration. The HPLC profiles of these conserves were used to quantify the total catechin content with the help of calibration curves prepared using authentic samples at known concentrations. The total catechin content is found to be in the range of 55-85%. Results indicated that the extracts from coarse leaves also possess potential biological activity and could be used as nutraceuticals as well as for preservation purposes in food formulations. Keywords: Tea; Camellia sinensis; Theaceae; coarse leaves; infrared dryer; crossflow dryer; green tea and radical scavenging activity.
Transdermal delivery of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a green tea polyphenol, in mice.:J Pharm Pharmacol. 2006 May;58(5):599-604.Lambert JD, Kim DH, Zheng R, Yang CS.
Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. joshua.lambert@hotmail.com.[PMID:16640828]
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most studied catechin in green tea (Camellia sinensis). EGCG and green tea are cancer preventive in many animal models, and numerous mechanisms have been proposed in cell lines. EGCG is poorly bioavailable in man and rodents. We hypothesized that transdermal delivery of EGCG could result in improved bioavailability. Following application of EGCG transdermal gel (50 mg kg(-1), t.d.) to SKH-1 mice, EGCG was observed in the epidermis (1365.7-121.0 ng g(-1)) and dermis (411.2-42.6 ng g(-1)). The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of EGCG was 44.5 ng mL(-1). The t(1/2) (94.4 h) and AUC(0-->24 h) (881.5 ng mL(-1) h) of EGCG were greater than values previously reported for oral EGCG. The t(1/2) and area under the concentration-time curve up to 24 h (AUC(0-->24 h)) in the liver, small intestine and colon were 21.3-74.6 h and 715-2802 ng g(-1)h, respectively. Stability studies showed that the transdermal formulation was stable at 4 degrees C and had a half-life (t(1/2)) of 47.1 and 20.2 h at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C, respectively. These data indicate that transdermal EGCG is useful for delivering prolonged levels of EGCG to plasma and tissues, and may provide an alternative to tea consumption as a dosage form of EGCG.
Modulation of cholesterol metabolism by the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in cultured human liver (HepG2) cells.:J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1621-6.Bursill CA, Roach PD.Wellcome Trust Centre of Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom.[PMID:16506810 ]
Epidemiological and animal studies have found that green tea is associated with lower plasma cholesterol. This study aimed to further elucidate how green tea modulates cholesterol metabolism. When HepG2 cells were incubated with the main green tea constituents, the catechins, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was the only catechin to increase LDL receptor binding activity (3-fold) and protein (2.5-fold) above controls. EGCG increased the conversion of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) to its active form (+56%) and lowered the cellular cholesterol concentration (-28%). At 50 microM, EGCG significantly lowered cellular cholesterol synthesis, explaining the reduction in cellular cholesterol. At 200 microM EGCG, cholesterol synthesis was significantly increased even though cellular cholesterol was lower, but there was a significant increase seen in medium cholesterol. This indicates that, at 200 microM, EGCG increases cellular cholesterol efflux. This study provides mechanisms by which green tea modulates cholesterol metabolism and indicates that EGCG might be its active constituent.
Catechin and caffeine content of green tea dietary supplements and correlation with antioxidant capacity.:J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1599-603.Seeram NP, Henning SM, Niu Y, Lee R, Scheuller HS, Heber D.Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. nseeram@mednet.ucla.edu.[PMID:16506807]
The health benefits associated with tea consumption have resulted in the wide inclusion of green tea extracts in botanical dietary supplements, which are widely consumed as adjuvants for complementary and alternative medicines. Tea contains polyphenols such as catechins or flavan-3-ols including epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), as well as the alkaloid, caffeine. Polyphenols are antioxidants, and EGCG, due to its high levels, is widely accepted as the major antioxidant in green tea. Therefore, commercial green tea dietary supplements (GTDS) may be chemically standardized to EGCG levels and/or biologically standardized to antioxidant capacity. However, label claims on GTDS may not correlate with actual phytochemical content or antioxidant capacity nor provide information about the presence and levels of caffeine. In the current study, 19 commonly available GTDS were evaluated for catechin and caffeine content (using high-performance liquid chromatography) and for antioxidative activity [using trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) assays]. Product labels varied in the information provided and were inconsistent with actual phytochemical contents. Only seven of the GTDS studied made label claims of caffeine content, 11 made claims of EGCG content, and five specified total polyphenol content. Caffeine, EGCG, and total polyphenol contents in the GTDS varied from 28 to 183, 12-143, and 14-36% tablet or capsule weight, respectively. TEAC and ORAC values for GTDS ranged from 187 to 15340 and from 166 to 13690 mumol Trolox/g for tablet or capsule, respectively. The antioxidant activities for GTDS determined by TEAC and ORAC were well-correlated with each other and with the total polyphenol content. Reliable labeling information and standardized manufacturing practices, based on both chemical standardization and biological assays, are recommended for the quality control of botanical dietary supplements.
Green tea extract and its major polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate improve muscle function in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.:Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2006 Feb;290(2):C616-25.Dorchies OM, Wagner S, Vuadens O, Waldhauser K, Buetler TM, Kucera P, Ruegg UT.Laboratory of Pharmacology, Geneva-Lausanne School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univ. of Geneva, Switzerland.[PMID:16403950]
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a frequent muscular disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a cytoskeletal protein that contributes to the stabilization of muscle fiber membrane during muscle activity. Affected individuals show progressive muscle wasting that generally causes death by age 30. In this study, the dystrophic mdx(5Cv) mouse model was used to investigate the effects of green tea extract, its major component (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and pentoxifylline on dystrophic muscle quality and function. Three-week-old mdx(5Cv) mice were fed for either 1 or 5 wk a control chow or a chow containing the test substances. Histological examination showed a delay in necrosis of the extensor digitorum longus muscle in treated mice. Mechanical properties of triceps surae muscles were recorded while the mice were under deep anesthesia. Phasic and tetanic tensions of treated mice were increased, reaching values close to those of normal mice. The phasic-to-tetanic tension ratio was corrected. Finally, muscles from treated mice exhibited 30-50% more residual force in a fatigue assay. These results demonstrate that diet supplementation of dystrophic mdx(5Cv) mice with green tea extract or (-)-epigallocatechin gallate protected muscle against the first massive wave of necrosis and stimulated muscle adaptation toward a stronger and more resistant phenotype.
Long-term preservation of human saphenous vein by green tea polyphenol under physiological conditions.:Tissue Eng. 2005 Jul-Aug;11(7-8):1054-64.Han DW, Park YH, Kim JK, Jung TG, Lee KY, Hyon SH, Park JC.Department of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.[PMID:16144441]
Polyphenolic compounds are well known as a functional food with various bioactivities. However, less attention has been paid to the effect of phenolic antioxidants on the preservation of blood vessels. In this study, the possible effects of green tea polyphenolic compounds (GTPCs) on the longterm preservation of the human saphenous vein (HSV) were investigated under physiological conditions. HSV segments were pretreated with GTPCs (0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) for 1 day and then incubated for 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks. After incubation, cellular viability, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression level, biomechanical properties, and vein histology were evaluated. When HSV segments were incubated without GTPC treatment, endothelial cell viability was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with incubation time, and none of the endothelial cells expressed eNOS after 2 weeks. Furthermore, nontreated veins demonstrated appreciable inferiority in such mechanical properties as failure strength, elastic modulus, and compliance, compared with fresh veins. These results were confirmed by histological observations, which showed severe structural changes in nontreated veins. On the other hand, these phenomena were markedly prevented by preincubating veins with GTPCs (1.0 mg/mL) at 37 degrees C in a CO(2) incubator for 1 day. GTPC-pretreated veins could be preserved for at least 2 weeks under physiological conditions, retaining cellular viability and eNOS expression level and maintaining both biomechanical properties and vascular structures without any morphological alterations. These results demonstrate that GTPC treatment may be a useful method for preserving the HSV and could be exploited to craft strategies for the long-term preservation of other tissues under physiological conditions.
HPLC analysis of naturally occurring methylated catechins, 3' '- and 4' '-methyl-epigallocatechin gallate, in various fresh tea leaves and commercial teas and their potent inhibitory effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages.:J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Sep 7;53(18):7035-42.Chiu FL, Lin JK.Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Number 1, Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan.
[PMID:16131108]
(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol of green tea, undergoes substantial biotransformation to species that includes the methylated compounds. Recent studies have demonstrated that the methylated EGCG has many biological activities. In this study, we have investigated the composition of the three O-methylated EGCG derivatives, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (3' '-Me-EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (4' '-Me-EGCG) and (-)-4'-methyl epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (4',4' '-di-Me-EGCG) in tea leaves which were picked from various species and at various seasons, ages of leaves, locations, and fermentation levels. Higher levels of 3' '-Me-EGCG and 4' '-Me-EGCG were detected in Chinshin-Kanzai (a species of Camellia sinensis) cultivated in the mountain area of Sansia, Taipei County, Taiwan. Also, these O-methylated EGCG levels were found to be higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. The young leaves were found to be richer in the O-methylated compounds than old leaves and the amount of O-methylated EGCG was higher in unfermented longjin green tea than in semifermented oolong tea. However, the fermented black tea and puerh tea did not contain these compounds. 4',4' '-diMe-EGCG could not be detected in either fresh tea leaves or commercial tea leaves. We also found that 3' '-Me-EGCG has a higher inhibitory effect on the nitric oxide generation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression as compared with EGCG, while 4' '-Me-EGCG and 4',4' '-di-Me-EGCG were less effective.
Stability of black tea polyphenol, theaflavin, and identification of theanaphthoquinone as its major radical reaction product.:Jhoo JW, Lo CY, Li S, Sang S, Ang CY, Heinze TM, Ho CT.Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, USA..[PMID:16029009 ]
In the current study, we have focused on isolation and detection of major radical oxidation products from theaflavin in order to better understand antioxidation mechanisms of this compound. Theanaphthoquinone was identified as a major oxidation product of theaflavin from two different oxidant model systems: DPPH and peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide. This result indicated that the benzotropolone moiety in theaflavin may play an important role in its antioxidant properties. The stability of theaflavin was studied in varying pH solutions: simulated gastric juice and buffer solutions of pH 5.5, pH 7.4, and pH 8.5. The results indicated that theaflavin is unstable in alkaline conditions, while it was stable in acidic conditions. Theanaphthoquinone was identified as an autoxidation product of theaflavin during its stability study in alkaline conditions.
Piperine enhances the bioavailability of the tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in mice.:J Nutr. 2004 Aug;134(8):1948-52.Lambert JD, Hong J, Kim DH, Mishin VM, Yang CS.Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. joshua_lambert@hotmail.com.[PMID:15284381]
(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), from green tea (Camellia sinensis), has demonstrated chemopreventive activity in animal models of carcinogenesis. Previously, we reported the bioavailability of EGCG in rats (1.6%) and mice (26.5%). Here, we report that cotreatment with a second dietary component, piperine (from black pepper), enhanced the bioavailability of EGCG in mice. Intragastric coadministration of 163.8 micromol/kg EGCG and 70.2 micromol/kg piperine to male CF-1 mice increased the plasma C(max) and area under the curve (AUC) by 1.3-fold compared to mice treated with EGCG only. Piperine appeared to increase EGCG bioavailability by inhibiting glucuronidation and gastrointestinal transit. Piperine (100 micromol/L) inhibited EGCG glucuronidation in mouse small intestine (by 40%) but not in hepatic microsomes. Piperine (20 micromol/L) also inhibited production of EGCG-3"-glucuronide in human HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. Small intestinal EGCG levels in CF-1 mice following treatment with EGCG alone had a C(max) = 37.50 +/- 22.50 nmol/g at 60 min that then decreased to 5.14 +/- 1.65 nmol/g at 90 min; however, cotreatment with piperine resulted in a C(max) = 31.60 +/- 15.08 nmol/g at 90 min, and levels were maintained above 20 nmol/g until 180 min. This resulted in a significant increase in the small intestine EGCG AUC (4621.80 +/- 1958.72 vs. 1686.50 +/- 757.07 (nmol/g.min)). EGCG appearance in the colon and the feces of piperine-cotreated mice was slower than in mice treated with EGCG alone. The present study demonstrates the modulation of the EGCG bioavailablity by a second dietary component and illustrates a mechanism for interactions between dietary chemicals.
Mechanisms of cancer prevention by tea constituents.:J Nutr. 2003 Oct;133(10):3262S-3267S.Lambert JD, Yang CS.Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.[PMID: 14519824]
Consumption of tea (Camellia sinensis) has been suggested to prevent cancer, heart disease and other diseases. Animal studies have shown that tea and tea constituents inhibit carcinogenesis of the skin, lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, liver, prostate and other organs. In some studies, the inhibition correlated with an increase in tumor cell apoptosis and a decrease in cell proliferation. Studies with human cancer cell lines have demonstrated that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major tea polyphenol, inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinases, cyclin-dependent kinases, growth factor-related cell signaling, activation of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), topoisomerase I and matrix metalloproteinases as well as other potential targets. Although some studies report effects of EGCG at submicromolar levels, most experiments require concentrations of >10 or 20 micromol/L to demonstrate the effect. In humans, tea polyphenols undergo glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, and ring fission. The peak plasma concentration of EGCG is approximately 1 micromol/L. The possible relevance of each of the proposed mechanisms to human cancer prevention is discussed in light of current bioavailability data for tea polyphenols and the potential limitations of animal models of carcinogenesis. Such discussion, it is hoped, will clarify some misunderstandings of cancer prevention by tea and stimulate new research efforts.
Black tea represents a major source of dietary phenolics among regular tea drinkers.:Free Radic Res. 2002 Oct;36(10):1127-35.Rechner AR, Wagner E, Van Buren L, Van De Put F, Wiseman S, Rice-Evans CA.Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's, King's and St Thomas's School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, Hodgkin Building-3rd floor, London SE1 9RT, UK.[PMID:12516885]
The phenolic composition and antioxidant activities [TEAC, ORAC, FRAP] of consumer brews (1 tea bag in 230 ml for 1 min) of seven different brands of black tea from the British market were investigated. The main phenolic compounds identified were epigallocatechin gallate, four theaflavins, as well as epicatechin gallate, theogallin (tentative assignment), quercetin-3-rutinoside and 4-caffeoyl quinic acid. Thearubigins represented an estimated 75-82% of the total phenolics. Further, polyphenol fractions were in decreasing order theaflavins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, gallic acids and hydroxycinnamates. On average, a cup of a consumer brew of black tea is providing polyphenols at the level of 262mg GAE/serving, of which 65 mg were assigned to individual polyphenols. The antioxidant activity of black tea preparations is higher than that of most reported dietary agents on a daily basis. Correlations were observed between the antioxidant activities and the sum of all quantified polyphenols by HPLC analysis as well as with the total phenolics. Treatment of the black tea brew with simulated gastric juice resulted in a significant increase of the identified theaflavins implying a partial cleavage of thearubigins in the environment of the gastric lumen. Therefore, black tea can be considered to be a rich source of polyphenols and/or antioxidants.
Acute liver failure induced by green tea extracts: case report and review of the literature.:Liver Transpl. 2006 Dec;12(12):1892-5.Molinari M, Watt KD, Kruszyna T, Nelson R, Walsh M, Huang WY, Nashan B, Peltekian K.Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Michele.molinari@cdha.nshealth.ca[PMID:17133573]
In industrialized countries, over-the-counter dietary supplements have become popular in preventing and treating an expanding list of medical conditions. Although most commercially available supplements have not been rigorously tested for safety and efficacy, they have found an enlarging market because they are considered natural. Oral supplements containing green tea extract have been marketed as effective for weight loss and to prevent and cure some solid tumors. Although there is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness of green tea extracts to improve the quality of health of regular consumers, there is an increasing body of medical literature supporting the hypothesis that they can cause serious side effects. Our experience adds to previous reports of acute liver toxicity observed in individuals consuming supplements containing green tea extract. We highlight the importance of obtaining a detailed history of dietary supplement consumption when evaluating a patient presenting with acute liver dysfunction.
Availability of weight-loss supplements: Results of an audit of retail outlets in a southeastern city.:J Am Diet Assoc. 2006 Dec;106(12):2045-51.Sharpe PA, Granner ML, Conway JM, Ainsworth BE, Dobre M.Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. pasharpe@sc.edu.[PMID:17126636]
The sale of nonprescription weight-loss products accounts for millions of dollars spent by Americans trying to lose weight, yet there is little evidence for effectiveness and there are multiple safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to determine what products, and ingredients within products, were available at retail outlets in a metropolitan area. A purposive sampling strategy identified 73 retail outlets. An audit form was used to collect information from product labels. The audit identified 402 products containing 4,053 separate ingredients. The mean number of ingredients per product was 9.9+/-8.96 (range = 1 to 96). A database search was conducted regarding evidence for effectiveness, safety precautions, and side effects for the 10 ingredients that appeared most often across products. Modest evidence of effectiveness exists for green tea (Camellia sinensis), chromium picolinate, and ma huang (Ephedra major). For the remaining seven (ginger root [Zingiber officinale], guarana [Paullinia cupana], hydroxycitric acid [Garcinia cambogia], white willow [Salix alba], Siberian ginseng [Eleutherococcus senticosus], cayenne [Capsicum annuum], and bitter orange/zhi shi [Citrus aurantium]), inadequate or negative evidence exists. Although precautions and contraindications were found for all 10 ingredients, the strongest concerns in the literature appear for ma huang, bitter orange, and guarana. Our audit revealed numerous weight-loss products available to consumers, yet there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of the top 10 ingredients identified and many potential adverse reactions; therefore, food and nutrition professionals should discuss dietary supplement use with their clients.
Efficacy of 12 weeks supplementation of a botanical extract-based weight loss formula on body weight, body composition and blood chemistry in healthy, overweight subjects--a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.:Eur J Med Res. 2006 Aug 30;11(8):343-50.Opala T, Rzymski P, Pischel I, Wilczak M, Wozniak J.Department of Mother's and Child's Health, Poznan University of Medical Science, Polna St 33, Poznan, Poland.[PMID:17052970]
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of composite extracts in reducing weight, as the main outcome measure. Secondary measures of the study were body composition change. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Tertiary university clinic. SUBJECTS: hundred and five subjects, 5 of them withdrawn consent, 2 drop-outs not related to study preparation. INTERVENTION: two tablet per meal concept supposed to generate a "psychological" therapy-like approach during 12 weeks supported by measured physical activity. The tablets 1 (one hour before meals, comprises extracts of Asparagus, Green tea, Black tea, Guarana, Mate and Kidney beans) and 2 (taken half an hour after meals, comprises extracts of Kidney bean pods, Garcinia cambogia, and Chromium yeast) are taken twice daily with two main meals. RESULTS: A significant change of the Body Composition Improvement Index (BCI) was observed in the active extract group compared to placebo (p = 0.012). Weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio was not statistically different between groups. Body fat loss was greater in active group (p = 0.011) compared to placebo. A weight loss parameter corrected for exercise was introduced and found to be higher in active group (p = 0.046) than in placebo, meaning that the formula was more efficacious, due to a concurrently performed exercise program--a recommended strategy for life style modification. CONCLUSIONS: A significant change of the Body Composition Improvement Index and the decrease in body fat was statistically significant in active extract subjects compared to placebo. A change in some outcome measures like: weight, BMI failed to produce significant difference between groups.
Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea.:Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13.Diepvens K, Westerterp KR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS.Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. K.Diepvens@HB.Unimaas.NL.[PMID:16840650]
The global prevalence of obesity has increased considerably in the last decade. Tools for obesity management, including caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea have been proposed as strategies for weight loss and weight maintenance, since they may increase energy expenditure and have been proposed to counteract the decrease in metabolic rate that is present during weight loss. A combination of caffeine and ephedrine has shown to be effective in long-term weight management, likely due to different mechanisms that may operate synergistically, e.g., respectively inhibiting the phosphodiesterase-induced degradation of cAMP and enhancing the sympathetic release of catecholamines. However, adverse effects of ephedrine prevent the feasibility of this approach. Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet. Also positive effects on body-weight management have been shown using green tea mixtures. Green tea, by containing both tea catechins and caffeine, may act through inhibition of catechol O-methyl-transferase, and inhibition of phosphodiesterase. Here, the mechanisms may also operate synergistically. In addition, tea catechins have antiangiogenic properties that may prevent development of overweight and obesity. Furthermore, the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the regulation of lipolysis, and the sympathetic innervation of white adipose tissue may play an important role in the regulation of total body fat in general.
Effect of green tea on resting energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during weight loss in overweight females.:Br J Nutr. 2005 Dec;94(6):1026-34.Diepvens K, Kovacs EM, Nijs IM, Vogels N, Westerterp-Plantenga MS.Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. K.Diepvens@HB.Unimaas.NL.[PMID:16351782]
We assessed the effect of ingestion of green tea (GT) extract along with a low-energy diet (LED) on resting energy expenditure (REE), substrate oxidation and body weight as GT has been shown to increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation in the short term in both animals and people. Forty-six overweight women (BMI 27.6 (sd 1.8) kg/m2) were fed in energy balance from day 1 to day 3, followed by a LED with GT (1125 mg tea catechins +225 mg caffeine/d) or placebo (PLAC) from day 4 to day 87. Caffeine intake was standardised to 300 mg/d. Energy expenditure was measured on days 4 and 32. Reductions in weight (4.19 (sd 2.0) kg PLAC, 4.21 (sd 2.7) kg GT), BMI, waist:hip ratio, fat mass and fat-free mass were not statistically different between treatments. REE as a function of fat-free mass and fat mass was significantly reduced over 32 d in the PLAC group (P<0.05) but not in the GT group. Dietary restraint increased over time (P<0.001) in both groups, whereas disinhibition and general hunger decreased (P<0.05). The GT group became more hungry over time and less thirsty, and showed increased prospective food consumption compared with PLAC (P<0.05). Taken together, the ingestion of GT along with a LED had no additional benefit for any measures of body weight or body composition. Although the decrease in REE as a function of fat-free mass and fat mass was not significant with GT treatment, whereas it was with PLAC treatment, no significant effect of treatment over time was seen, suggesting that a robust limitation of REE reduction during a LED was not achieved by GT.
Metabolic effects of green tea and of phases of weight loss.:Physiol Behav. 2006 Jan 30;87(1):185-91. Epub 2005 Nov 7.Diepvens K, Kovacs EM, Vogels N, Westerterp-Plantenga MS.Maastricht University, Department of Human Biology, P.O. Box 616 NL-6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. K.Diepvens@HB.Unimaas.NL[PMID:16277999]
The effect of ingestion of green tea (GT) extract along with a low-energy diet (LED) on health-related blood parameters, and the relationships among changes in metabolic parameters and phases of weight loss were assessed. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design was used. 46 female subjects (BMI 27.7+/-1.8 kg/m(2)) were fed in energy balance from days 1 to 3, followed by a LED with GT (n=23) or placebo (PLAC, n=23) from days 4 to 87. The LED-period consisted of a phase 1 of 4 weeks (days 4-32) followed by a phase 2 of 8 weeks (days 32-87). Body composition and fasting blood samples were determined on days 4, 32 and 87. No significant differences were observed between the blood parameters of the PLAC and GT group. In phase 1 compared to phase 2 the rate of weight loss was 0.09+/-0.05 kg/day vs. 0.03+/-0.03 kg/day (p<0.001); Fat free mass (FFM) was 21% of weight loss in phase 1 vs. 7% in phase 2 (ns). Surprisingly, favourable changes in free fatty acids, triacylglycerol, beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and total cholesterol in phase 1 were reversed in phase 2 (p<0.01). Taken together, GT supplementation during a LED had no effect on health-related blood parameters. Initial improvements in several blood measures at day 32 were reversed by day 87, despite continued weight loss. Modest weight loss improved HDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
Fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with hydroalcoholic extract of green tea.:Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Oct;17(10):1135-7.Gloro R, Hourmand-Ollivier I, Mosquet B, Mosquet L, Rousselot P, Salame E, Piquet MA, Dao T.Service d'Hepatogastroenterologie et de Nutrition, CHU Cote de Nacre, Caen, France. gloro-r@chu-caen.fr[PMID:16148563]
Despite an ancient reputation for potential phytotherapeutic effects and innocuity, traditional herbal medicine has previously been implicated in severe adverse events. Exolise is an 80% ethanolic dry extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized at 25% catechins expressed as epigallocatechin gallate, containing 5-10% caffeine. It has been available in France, Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom since 1999, as an adjuvant therapy for use in weight loss programmes. In various studies, green tea has to date been considered useful for its potential hepatic protective properties. In this study, we report a case of fulminant hepatitis during self-medication with Exolise, requiring liver transplantation.
Body weight loss and weight maintenance in relation to habitual caffeine intake and green tea supplementation.:Obes Res. 2005 Jul;13(7):1195-204.Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Lejeune MP, Kovacs EM.Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.westerterp@hb.unimaas.nl.[PMID:16076989]
OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the effect of a green tea-caffeine mixture on weight maintenance after body weight loss in moderately obese subjects in relation to habitual caffeine intake. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A randomized placebo-controlled double blind parallel trial in 76 overweight and moderately obese subjects, (BMI, 27.5 +/- 2.7 kg/m2) matched for sex, age, BMI, height, body mass, and habitual caffeine intake was conducted. A very low energy diet intervention during 4 weeks was followed by 3 months of weight maintenance (WM); during the WM period, the subjects received a green tea-caffeine mixture (270 mg epigallocatechin gallate + 150 mg caffeine per day) or placebo. RESULTS: Subjects lost 5.9 +/-1.8 (SD) kg (7.0 +/- 2.1%) of body weight (p < 0.001). At baseline, satiety was positively, and in women, leptin was inversely, related to subjects' habitual caffeine consumption (p < 0.01). High caffeine consumers reduced weight, fat mass, and waist circumference more than low caffeine consumers; resting energy expenditure was reduced less and respiratory quotient was reduced more during weight loss (p < 0.01). In the low caffeine consumers, during WM, green tea still reduced body weight, waist, respiratory quotient and body fat, whereas resting energy expenditure was increased compared with a restoration of these variables with placebo (p < 0.01). In the high caffeine consumers, no effects of the green tea-caffeine mixture were observed during WM. DISCUSSION: High caffeine intake was associated with weight loss through thermogenesis and fat oxidation and with suppressed leptin in women. In habitual low caffeine consumers, the green tea-caffeine mixture improved WM, partly through thermogenesis and fat oxidation.
Medicinal benefits of green tea: Part I. Review of noncancer health benefits.:J Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):521-8.Cooper R, Morre DJ, Morre DM.PhytoScience, Inc., Los Altos, CA 94023, USA. rcooperphd@aol.com.[PMID:15992239]
Tea, in the form of green or black tea, is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Extracts of tea leaves also are sold as dietary supplements. However, with the increasing interest in the health properties of tea and a significant rise in scientific investigation, this review covers recent findings on the medicinal properties and noncancer health benefits of both green and black tea. In Part II, a review of anticancer properties of green tea extracts is presented. Green tea contains a unique set of catechins that possess biological activity in antioxidant, anti-angiogenesis, and antiproliferative assays potentially relevant to the prevention and treatment of various forms of cancer. Although there has been much focus on the biological properties of the major tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and its antitumor properties, tea offers other health benefits; some due to the presence of other important constituents. Characteristics unrelated to the antioxidant properties of green and black teas may be responsible for tea's anticancer activity and improvement in cardiac health and atherosclerosis. Theanine in green tea may play a role in reducing stress. Oxidized catechins (theaflavins in black tea) may reduce cholesterol levels in blood. Synergistic properties of green tea extracts with other sources of polyphenolic constituents are increasingly recognized as being potentially important to the medicinal benefits of black and green teas. Furthermore, due to presumed antioxidant and antiaging properties, tea is now finding its way into topical preparations. Each of these aspects is surveyed.
Electrocardiographic effects of an Ephedra-Free, multicomponent weight-loss supplement in healthy volunteers.:Pharmacotherapy. 2005 May;25(5):654-9.Min B, McBride BF, Kardas MJ, Ismali A, Sinha V, Kluger J, White CM.School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, 06102, USA.[PMID:15899726]
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Metabolife 356, an ephedra-containing weight-loss product, substantially increases the corrected QT (QTc) interval. Metabolife Ephedra Free, a similar supplement, contains caffeine and extracts of green tea, garcinia cambogia, and yerba mate. Its electrocardiographic (ECG) effects are not known. Therefore, we sought to determine the effect of this supplement on the QTc interval. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SETTING: University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus. SUBJECTS: Twenty healthy volunteers. Intervention. A single capsule containing half the normal recommended dose of Metabolife Ephedra Free or matching placebo was administered in crossover fashion, with a 7-day washout period between treatments. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Baseline and three postdose ECG measurements were obtained, and QTc intervals were measured over a 5-hour study period. No significant differences in the QTc interval or other ECG variables were observed between the Metabolife Ephedra Free and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: At half the recommended single dose, Metabolife Ephedra Free does not affect the QTc interval or other ECG variables over 5 hours. Dose-response studies and studies of longer duration should be conducted.
Common dietary supplements for weight loss.:Am Fam Physician. 2004 Nov 1;70(9):1731-8.Saper RB, Eisenberg DM, Phillips RS.Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.[PMID:15554492]
Over-the-counter dietary supplements to treat obesity appeal to many patients who desire a "magic bullet" for weight loss. Asking overweight patients about their use of weight-loss supplements and understanding the evidence for the efficacy, safety, and quality of these supplements are critical when counseling patients regarding weight loss. A schema for whether physicians should recommend, caution, or discourage use of a particular weight-loss supplement is presented in this article. More than 50 individual dietary supplements and more than 125 commercial combination products are available for weight loss. Currently, no weight-loss supplements meet criteria for recommended use. Although evidence of modest weight loss secondary to ephedra-caffeine ingestion exists, potentially serious adverse effects have led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of these products. Chromium is a popular weight-loss supplement, but its efficacy and long-term safety are uncertain. Guar gum and chitosan appear to be ineffective; therefore, use of these products should be discouraged. Because of insufficient or conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid, ginseng, glucomannan, green tea, hydroxycitric acid, L-carnitine, psyllium, pyruvate, and St. John's wort in weight loss, physicians should caution patients about the use of these supplements and closely monitor those who choose to use these products.
Effects of green tea on weight maintenance after body-weight loss.:Br J Nutr. 2004 Mar;91(3):431-7.Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.[PMID:15005829.]
The present study was conducted to investigate whether green tea may improve weight maintenance by preventing or limiting weight regain after weight loss of 5 to 10 % in overweight and moderately obese subjects. The study had a randomised, parallel, placebo-controlled design. A total of 104 overweight and moderately obese male and female subjects (age 18-60 years; BMI 25-35 kg/m(2)) participated. The study consisted of a very-low-energy diet intervention (VLED; 2.1 MJ/d) of 4 weeks followed by a weight-maintenance period of 13 weeks in which the subjects received green tea or placebo. The green tea contained caffeine (104 mg/d) and catechins (573 mg/d, of which 323 mg was epigallocatechin gallate). Subjects lost 6.4 (sd 1.9) kg or 7.5 (sd 2.2) % of their original body weight during the VLED (P<0.001). Body-weight regain was not significantly different between the green tea and the placebo group (30.5 (sd 61.8) % and 19.7 (sd 56.9) %, respectively). In the green tea treatment, habitual high caffeine consumption was associated with a higher weight regain compared with habitual low caffeine consumption (39 (sd 17) and 16 (sd 11) %, respectively; P<0.05). We conclude that weight maintenance after 7.5 % body-weight loss was not affected by green tea treatment and that habitual caffeine consumption affected weight maintenance in the green tea treatment.
Weight reduction by Chinese medicinal herbs may be related to inhibition of fatty acid synthase.:Life Sci. 2004 Mar 26;74(19):2389-99.Tian WX, Li LC, Wu XD, Chen CC.
Department of Biology, the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, PR China. tianweixi@gscas.ac.cn[PMID:14998716]
Fatty acid synthase (EC 2. 3. 1. 85, abbr. FAS) is reported as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity. Thirty one Chinese medicinal herbs used in weight reducing prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were investigated for FAS inhibition. It was found that 17 of these herbs exhibited FAS inhibitor activity, and 9 were highly potent FAS inhibitors. The inhibitory potencies of the active components of tuber fleeceflower root, parasitic loranthus, green tea leaf and ginkgo leaf were similar to or greater than cerulenin and C75. The first three of these four herbs significantly reduced body weight of rats upon their oral incubation. Moreover, tuber fleeceflower root and parasitic loranthus significantly reduced food intake in rats. These results indicate that many of weight reducing herbs used in TCM do so by inhibiting FAS. They also hold promise for the development of new nontoxic and low cost weight reducing substances from these herbs.
A functional food product for the management of weight.:Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002 Mar;42(2):163-78.Bell SJ, Goodrick GK.Functional Foods, Inc., Belmont, MA 02478, USA. staceyjbell@yahoo.com.[PMID:11934132]
More than half of Americans have a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or more, which classifies them as overweight or obese. Overweight or obesity is strongly associated with comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, gall bladder disease, and sleep apnea. Clearly, this is a national health concern, and although about 30 to 40% of the obese claim that they are trying to lose weight or maintain weight after weight loss, current therapies appear to have little effect. None of the current popular diets are working, and there is room for innovation. With the advancing science of nutrition, several nutrients - low-glycemic-index carbohydrates, 5-hydroxytryptophan, green tea extract, and chromium - have been identified that may promote weight loss. The first two nutrients decrease appetite, green tea increases the 24-h energy expenditure, and chromium promotes the composition of the weight lost to be fat rather than lean tissue. These have been assembled in efficacious doses into a new functional food product and described in this review. The product is undergoing clinical testing; each component has already been shown to promote weight loss in clinical trials.
Pharmacological inhibitors of Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN)--catalyzed endogenous fatty acid biogenesis: a new family of anti-cancer agents?:Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2006 Dec;7(6):483-93.Lupu R, Menendez JA.Department of Medicine, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. r-lupu@northwestern.edu[PMID:17168665]
The expression and activity of Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN; the sole enzyme capable of the reductive de novo synthesis of long-chain fatty acids from acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate -NADPH-) is extremely low in nearly all nonmalignant adult tissues, whereas it is significantly up-regulated or activated in many cancer types, thus creating the potential for a large therapeutic index. Since the pioneering observation that inhibition of FASN activity by the mycotoxin cerulenin preferentially kills cancer cells and retards the growth of tumors in xenografts models, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed the potential of FASN as a target for antineoplastic intervention. Other FASN inhibitors such as the cerulenin derivative C75, the beta-lactone orlistat, the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and other naturally occurring flavonoids (i.e., luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol), as well as the antibiotic triclosan, have been identified and have been shown to limit cancer cell growth by inducing apoptotic cell death. Though the exact mode of action of these FASN inhibitors is under discussion, it has been revealed that depletion of end-product fatty acids, toxic intracellular accumulation of supra-physiological concentrations of the FASN substrate malonyl-CoA and/or limited membrane synthesis and/or functioning by altered production of phospholipids partitioning into detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (lipid raft-aggregates), can explain, at least in part, the cytostatic, cytotoxic as well as the apoptotic effects occurring upon pharmacological inhibition of FASN activity in cancer cells. Moreover, several cancer-associated molecular features including nonfunctioning p53, overexpression of the Her-2/neu (erbB-2) oncogene, and hyperactivation of the PI-3'K down-stream effector protein kinase B (AKT), appear to determine an exacerbated sensitivity to FASN inhibition-induced cancer cell death. Although few of these inhibitors are expected to be "exclusively" selective for FASN, the potential of FASN as a target for antineoplastic intervention has eventually been confirmed by RNA interference (RNAi)-knockdown of FASN. Certainly, future studies should definitely elucidate the ultimate biochemical link between FASN inhibition and cancer cell death. Although the combination of FASN structural complexity and until recently the lack of X-ray crystallography data of mammalian FASN created a significant challenge in the exploitation of FASN as a valuable target for drug development, it is hoped that the improvement in the selectivity and potency of forthcoming novel FASN-targeted small molecule inhibitors by taking advantage, for instance, of the recent 4.5 A resolution X-ray crystallographic map of mammalian FASN, will direct the foundation of a new family of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer history.
Trapping reactions of reactive carbonyl species with tea polyphenols in simulated physiological conditions.:Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Dec;50(12):1118-28.Lo CY, Li S, Tan D, Pan MH, Sang S, Ho CT.Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA.[PMID:17103374]
The carbonyl stress that leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in diabetes mellitus has drawn much attention recently. Reactive alpha-dicarbonyl compounds, such as glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO), have been shown to be a high potential glycation agent in vitro and in vivo. In this study, epicatechins in green tea and theaflavins in black tea were found to be able to reduce the concentration of MGO in physiological phosphate buffer conditions. Modified MGO derivatization for GC/flame ionization detector (FID) method in quantification was systematically conducted. In molar ratio of 3 (MGO/polyphenol), theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (TF3) in theaflavins and (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) in epicatechins showed the highest MGO reduction at 66.65 and 45.74%, respectively, after 1 h of incubation. In kinetic study (molar ratio of MGO/polyphenol = 1:1), rapid MGO reduction occurred within 10 min. Identities of primary adducts between (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and MGO were determined. Newly generated stereoisomers at the C8 position of EGCG A-ring were isolated with a chiral column, and structurally confirmed by 2-D NMR analyses.
Anxiolytic properties of green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).:Brain Res. 2006 Sep 19;1110(1):102-15. Epub 2006 Jul 21.Vignes M, Maurice T, Lante F, Nedjar M, Thethi K, Guiramand J, Recasens M.Laboratory Oxidative Stress and Neuroprotection, University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France. mvignes@univ-montp2.fr.[PMID:16859659]
Naturally occurring polyphenols are potent antioxidants. Some of these compounds are also ligands for the GABA(A) receptor benzodiazepine site. This feature endows them with sedative properties. Here, the anxiolytic activity of the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was investigated after acute administration in mice, using behavioral tests (elevated plus-maze and passive avoidance tests) and by electrophysiology on cultured hippocampal neurons. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that EGCG (1-10 muM) had no effect on GABA currents. However, EGCG reversed GABA(A) receptor negative modulator methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM) inhibition on GABA currents in a concentration dependent manner. This was also observed at the level of synaptic GABA(A) receptors by recording spontaneous inhibitory synaptic transmission. In addition, EGCG consistently inhibited spontaneous excitatory synaptic transmission. Behavioral tests indicated that EGCG exerted both anxiolytic and amnesic effects just like the benzodiazepine drug, chlordiazepoxide. Indeed, EGCG in a dose-dependent manner both increased the time spent in open arms of the plus-maze and decreased the step-down latency in the passive avoidance test. GABA(A) negative modulator beta-CCM antagonized EGCG-induced amnesia. Finally, state-dependent learning was observable after chlordiazepoxide and EGCG administration using a modified passive avoidance procedure. Optimal retention was observed only when animals were trained and tested in the same state (veh-veh or drug-drug) and significant retrieval alteration was observed in different states (veh-drug or drug-veh). Moreover, EGCG and chlordiazepoxide fully generalized in substitution studies, indicating that they induced indistinguishable chemical states for the brain. Therefore, our data support that EGCG can induce anxiolytic activity which could result from an interaction with GABA(A) receptors.
Green tea supplementation in rats of different ages mitigates ethanol-induced changes in brain antioxidant abilities.:Alcohol. 2005 Oct;37(2):89-98.Skrzydlewska E, Augustyniak A, Michalak K, Farbiszewski R.Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland. skrzydle@amb.edu.pl.[PMID:16584972]
Oxidative stress induced by chronic ethanol consumption, particularly in aging subjects, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidants with polyphenol structures, such as those contained in green tea, given alone for 5 weeks in liquid Lieber de Carli diet followed by administration with ethanol for 4 weeks with ethanol have been investigated as potential therapeutic antioxidant agents in the brain in rats of three ages (2, 12, and 24 months). Ethanol consumption caused age-dependent decreases in brain superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase activities. In addition, ethanol consumption caused age-dependent decreases in the levels of GSH, selenium, vitamins, E, A and C, and beta-carotene and increases in the levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Changes in the brain's antioxidative ability were accompanied by enhanced oxidative modification of lipids (increases in lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal levels) and proteins (increases in carbonyl groups and bistyrosine). Reduced risk of oxidative stress and protection of the central nervous system, particularly in young and adult rats, after green tea supplementation were observed. Green tea partially prevented changes in antioxidant enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic parameters induced by ethanol and enhanced by aging. Administration of green tea significantly protects lipids and proteins against oxidative modifications in the brain tissue of young and adult rats. The beneficial effect of green tea can result from the inhibition of free radical chain reactions generated during ethanol-induced oxidative stress and/or from green tea-induced increases in antioxidative abilities made possible by increases in the activity/concentration of endogenous antioxidants.
Effects of some Chinese herbal medicine and green tea antagonizing mutagenesis caused by cigarette tar:Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1997 Mar;31(2):71-4.Han F, Hu J, Xu H.
Department of Environmental Health, Shandong Medical University, Jinan.[PMID:9812614]
Anti-mutagenic effects of some Chinese herbal medicine and green tea antagonizing cigarette tar was studied with unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) test in human peripheral lymphocytes in order to exploit the better use of Chinese herbal resources. Results showed that Scutellaria barbata, Hedyotis diffusa wildi, Xihuangwan, green tea and tea polyphenol all had anti-mutagenic effects, to some extent. And, 125 g/L of Scutellaria barbata, 125 g/L Hedyotis diffusa wildi, 325 g/L Xihuangwan, 78 g/L green tea and 25 g/L tea polyphenol could inhibit obviously the damage to DNA in lymphocytes caused by the total particle material (TPM) extracted from cigarette tar. If the Chinese herbal medicine and green tea were injected into cigarettes beforehand, extracted TPM (containing herbal medicine and green tea) also could protect DNA in lymphocytes from damage caused by cigarette tar, to even greater extent. This result is basically consistent with other anti-mutagenesis tests.
Green Tea Polyphenols Research Update:
Green Tea Polyphenols as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for Memory Improvement:
A recent paper1 reports that in 4-week-old male ICR rats fed a regular chow diet supplemented with 0.2% by weight of green tea polyphenols for 7 days, the animals had improved memory in the step-through latency test after pretreatment with scopolamine. Scopolamine is a muscarinic cholinergic receptor blocker that causes memory deficits as a result of reduced cholinergic neurotransmission. Memory is assessed via a test (step-through latency) in which the animals are placed in a box with two compartments, one light and one dark. During training, the animals are placed in the lighted compartment, and when they enter the dark compartment (which they normally prefer), they receive a shock. Their ability to remember this later is the basis for memory assessment. Increased latency in the treated animals, i.e., delayed entry into the dark compartment (as compared to nontreated animals) after previous shock, is a measure of the memory-enhancing effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The authors found that ahronic administration of TP [green tea polyphenols] significantly increased latency time.?They found that TP administration dramatically inhibited AChE [acetylcholinesterase] activity (71% inhibition) as compared to the control. ?The concentration required for 50% enzyme inhibition (IC50) was 248 mg/ml.?
Green Tea Polyphenols:
For more than 4 thousand years Chinese culture has recognized the medicinal value of drinking green tea. More recent research in China and elsewhere has demonstrated that green tea can help to prevent a number of degenerative diseases. The most likely chemicals involved are polyphenols. Green tea is very rich in these.
Research using electron spin resonance has shown that the polyphenols are very effective scavengers for free radicals and thus probably act to prevent oxidative damage, which is a known precursor of degenerative disease.
Of particular interest to the Chinese group is the role of Green Tea polyphenols in the protection of the nervous system and brain tissue. The membranes of this tissue contain highly unsaturated fatty acids and are thus particularly vulnerable to oxidative attack. Using a model membrane system we have been able to show that the green tea polyphenols prevent oxidative attacks by entering the membrane and acting there, rather than simply remaining in the aqueous phase. The polyphenols may be effective therefore because of their ability to reside at the most vulnerable point of attack for these membranes.
Dental Caries:
Fluoride concentrations in tea are comparable to those recommended for U.S. water supplies in order to prevent dental caries (cavities). Green, black, and oolong tea extracts have been found to inhibit the growth and acid production of cavity-producing bacteria in the test tube. Although tea extracts have been found to prevent or decrease dental caries in animal models, few published studies have examined the effect of tea consumption on dental caries in humans. A cross-sectional study of more than 6,000 fourteen-year old children in the U.K. found that those who drank tea had significantly fewer dental caries than nondrinkers, whether or not they added sugar to their tea.
Kidney stones:
Two large prospective studies found that the risk of developing symptomatic kidney stones decreased by 8% in women and 14% in men for each eight-ounce (235 ml) mug of tea consumed daily. The implications of these findings for individuals with a previous history of calcium oxalate stone formation are unclear. High fluid intake, including tea intake, is generally considered the most effective and economical means of preventing kidney stones. However, tea consumption has been found to increase urinary oxalate levels in healthy individuals, and some experts continue to advise people with a history of calcium oxalate stones to limit tea consumption.
Osteoporosis:
Many factors can affect the development of osteoporosis, including nutrition, physical activity and genetic factors. Although one cross-sectional study found that black tea consumption was associated with slightly lower bone mineral density (BMD) in U.S. women, three other cross-sectional studies found that habitual tea consumption was associated with higher BMD in British and Canadian women and in Taiwanese men and women. Hip fracture is one of the most serious consequences of osteoporosis. A large case-control study in Mediterranean countries found that low tea consumption was associated with higher risk of hip fracture in men and women. However, two large prospective cohort studies of U.S. women found no relationship between tea consumption and the risk of hip or wrist fracture over 4-6 years of follow up. The most recent of these studies found that higher tea intakes were associated with slightly higher BMD in postmenopausal women, but this finding did not translate into a lower risk of hip or wrist fracture. Further study is required to determine whether tea consumption affects the development of osteoporosis or the risk of osteoporotic fracture in a meaningful way.
Green tea polyphenol extract attenuates lung injury in experimental model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy in mice.
Here we investigate the effects of the green tea extract in an animal model of acute inflammation, carrageenan-induced pleurisy. We report here that green tea extract (given at 25 mg/kg i.p. bolus 1 h prior to carrageenan), exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model of acute inflammation in vivo. Injection of carrageenan (2%) into the pleural cavity of mice elicited an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity that contained many neutrophils (PMNs), an infiltration of PMNs in lung tissues and increased production of nitrite/nitrate, tumour necrosis factor alpha. All parameters of inflammation were attenuated by green tea extract treatment. Furthermore, carrageenan induced an up-regulation of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, as well as nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) formation, as determined by immunohistochemical analysis of lung tissues. Staining for the ICAM-1, nitrotyrosine, and PARS was reduced by green tea extract. Our results clearly demonstrate that treatment with green tea extract exerts a protective effect and offers a novel therapeutic approach for the management of lung injury.
Prevent cancer:
The antioxidant EGCG sets in motion a process called apoptosis. Interestingly, the cell death that ensues only affects cancer cells, not healthy ones. EGCG may well enhance the body's natural antioxidant system as well, encouraging the elimination of damaging oxygen molecules called free radicals.
Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., professor at Case Western Reserve University and a prominent researcher in this area, believes there is "a strong indication that green tea is protective for prostate as well as esophageal and stomach cancers."
Chinese men, who commonly drink four to six cups of green tea daily, have a significantly lower mortality rate from prostate cancer than Westerners. And the incidence of prostate cancer in China, whose population consumes green tea regularly, is the lowest in the world. Evidence from a growing number of animal and lab studies suggests that green tea may be protecting these men against prostate cancer. A Mayo Clinic study this past year found that the main polyphenol in green tea, called EGCG, inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells and in high concentrations destroys them. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland reported recently that green tea polyphenols inhibit an enzyme that is over-expressed in prostate cancer, indicating that green tea might be effective in prostate cancer prevention. And a preliminary study by Japanese researchers at Kobe University showed that mice fed a green tea extract and then injected with a substance that causes prostate cancer were less likely to grow tumors than control animals.
In a large-scale study of more than 35,000 post-menopausal Iowa women (American Journal of Epidemiology, 7/96), those who drank two or more cups of tea daily were less likely to develop cancers of the urinary or digestive tract.
One large-scale study in China found that people who drank as little as one cup of green tea a week for six months had a reduced risk of developing certain kinds of cancers (rectal, pancreatic, and others) than did people who drank green tea less frequently or not at all. Other preliminary research indicates that green tea can help to combat breast, stomach, and skin cancer.
Scientists have even discovered that applying green tea to the skin can help cure and prevent some forms of skin cancer and other skin disorders, protect the skin from both long-term and short-term damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays and act as an antibacterial agent when applied to skin infections.
Evidence from the Nurses' Health Study suggests that green tea beverage consumption is associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer, lung cancer, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. In a physiologic study, green tea beverages drunk with meals inhibited the development of nitrosomines (carcinogenic compounds) in human volunteers.
Green tea has been the focus of exciting new studies indicating its effectiveness in raising metabolism for weight loss and preventing & fighting cancer and other disease with its super antioxidants. It has a long list of potential health benefits and is used to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, boost the immune system, prevent ulcers, control inflammation, viral colds and flu, prevents gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. It also been indicated for lowering cholesterol, preventing heart disease, osteoporosis and blood clots.
Green Tea is well-established as a potent source of healing antioxidants called polyphenols, the same beneficial compounds found in fruits and vegetables and even in red wine. The leaf also boasts the presence of a superstar antioxidant called EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) as well as other notable healing substances including fluoride, catechins, and tannins. Tannins are thought to help the body discharge toxins due to pollution and to accelerate the metabolism of fats.
Chemical analysis has revealed that green tea contains significant amounts of water-soluble vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc, manganese, potassium, niacin, folic acid and vitamin C. In fact, one cup of green tea has more vitamin C than an orange. Researchers at the University of Kansas attributed green tea with 100 times the antioxidant strength of vitamin C, and 25 times that of vitamin E. A United States Department of Agriculture study found that the antioxidant capacity of green tea is better than twenty-two various fruits and vegetables.
It aids in treating high cholesterol, high triglycerides, hypertension, and stimulates immune functions. Green Tea may actually lower the risks for arteriosclerosis. Research has shown that it guards against cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels, improving the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, reduces platelet aggregation (clumping or clotting of blood cells), and lowers blood pressure.
This herb eases mental fatigue and has been used in treating digestive tract infections. The Chinese often use it to treat migraine headaches. It can also help to prevent plaque buildup on the teeth, and since the leaves contain a natural fluoride, may be helpful in preventing tooth decay. It can help to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Swiss researchers even have preliminary evidence that green tea accelerates the burning of fat calories in people who are overweight.
A small but interesting 1999 study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation in men who took a green tea extract as opposed to a placebo or caffeine alone.
Many of the medicinal claims made for green tea haven't been examined outside a laboratory setting, specifically in clinical trials that assess the plant's health effects in people. On the other hand, the pure research findings are exciting and there certainly appears to be no harm in integrating this extract into your daily diet.
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Scientific References:
1.Green Tea Extracts,Green Tea Polyphenols,EGCg,EC,ECg,Epigallocatechin,Total Catechins,Green Tea Modern Benefit,Applicable Uses and Research New findings...
2.Research update of Camellia sinensis.Green Tea.Green Tea Polyphenols related.
Claims & Warning:
Claims: Information this web site presented is meant for Nutritional Benefit and as an educational starting point only, for use in maintenance and promotion good health in cooperation with a common knowledge base reference...Furthermore,it based solely on the traditional and historic use or legend of a given herb from the garden of Adonis. Although every effort has been made to ensure its accurate, please note that some info may be outdated by more recent scientific developments......
Pharmakon Warning: The order of knowledge is not the transparent order of forms and ideas,as one might be tempted retrospectively to interpret it; it is the antidote....(Dissemination,Plato's Pharmacy,II.The Ingredients:Phantasms,Festivals,and Paints;138cf. Jacques Derrida.).
And as it happens,the technique of imitation,along with the production of the simulacrum,has always been in Plato's eyes manifestly magical,thaumaturgical:......and the same things appear bent and straight to those who view them in water and out,or concave and convex,owing to similar errors of vision about colors, and there is obviously every confusion of this sort in our souls.And so scene painting (skiagraphia) in its exploitation of this weakness of four nature falls nothing short of witchcraft (thaumatopoia), and so do jugglery and many other such contrivances.(Republic X,602c-d;cf.also 607c).
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Phytochemical info of Green Tea:
What is Green Tea?.:
Scientific References:
Claims & Warning:
