Abstract
In its essence, tea is an infusion of Camellia sinensis leaves and it is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, aside water. Animal and epidemiological studies have associated green tea consumption with several health benefits, which include hypocholesterolemic effect and anti-in-flammatory activity. In this study catechins levels of green tea and its effect on the lipid profile of humans were evaluated as well as the protective effects against H2O2-mediated damage in human fibroblasts and anti-inflammatory activity of (–)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG). The daily consumption of 1200 mL of green tea for 30 days by 15 human volunteers promoted the decrease of cholesterol and LDL levels after 15 days, but this effect was not persistent after 30 days. No changes were observed in lipid profile after the consumption of green tea capsules. EGCG, a major green tea catechin, demonstrated an anti-inflammatory action in rats and an antioxidant effect in cultured human fibroblasts.
Highlights
Green tea became a very popular beverage in the western countries and almost everyday new functional beverages with green tea extract as an ingredient are developed
Results obtained in our study suggest that green tea have a hypocholesterolemic effect
In a human study green tea and green tea extract consumption was associated with the decrease of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels but all the volunteers were hypercholesterolemic and they all were on a low fat diet [31]
Summary
Green tea became a very popular beverage in the western countries and almost everyday new functional beverages with green tea extract as an ingredient are developed. Several human and animal studies suggest that green. (2014) Green Tea (Camellia sinensis): Hypocholesterolemic Effects in Humans and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Animals. The chemical composition of green tea is similar to that of fresh tea leaves containing several compounds with interest for human health such as polyphenols, fluoride, vitamin K, caffeine, minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium) and trace elements like, aluminium, chromium, selenium, manganese and iron. Catechins [(−)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) and (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC) followed by (−)-epicatechin 3-gallate (ECG), catechin (C) and (−)-epicatechin (EC)] are the most biologically active group of tea compounds [1]
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