Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) - A review

Food Research International

Volumn 42, Issue 5-6, 2009, Pages 529-535

  Sharangi, A B ^a  

^a BIDHAN CHANDRA KRISHI VISWAVIDYALAYA   (India)

Author keywords

Camellia sinensis; Ethno medicine; Human health; Medicinal and therapeutic values; Tea

Indexed keywords

CAMELLIA SINENSIS; ETHNO MEDICINE; HUMAN HEALTH; MEDICINAL AND THERAPEUTIC VALUES; TEA;

AMINES; AMINO ACIDS; BLOCK CODES; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC ACIDS; PHENOLS;

MEDICINE;

CAMELLIA SINENSIS;

EID: 67349197095     PISSN: 09639969     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2009.01.007     Document Type: Review

References (54)

1. Beltz L.A., Bayer D.K., Moss A.L., and Simet I.M. Mechanisms of cancer prevention by green and black tea polyphenols. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 6 5 (2006) 389-406
2. Cooper, R., Morre, D. J., & Morre, D. M. (2005). The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(4), 639-652. doi,10.1089/acm.2005.11.639.
3. COSIC: The Coffee Science Information Centre. Available from: (accessed on 15.09.2008).
4. Crescentlife.com (2008). St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Available from: (accessed on 20.09.2008).
5. Davies M.J., Judd J.T., Baer D.J., Clevidence B.A., Paul D.R., Edwards A.J., et al. Black tea consumption reduces total and LDL cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. Journal of Nutrition 133 10 (2003) 3298S-3302S
6. Duffy S.J., Keaney Jr. J.F., Holbrook M., Gokce N., Swerdloff P.L., Frei B., et al. Short- and long-term black tea consumption reverses endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation 104 (2001) 151-156
7. Einspahr J.G., Bowden G.T., and Alberts D.S. Skin cancer chemoprevention, strategies to save our skin. Recent Results in Cancer Research 163 (2003) 151-164
8. Frei B., and Higdon J.V. Antioxidant activity of tea polyphenols in vivo: Evidence from animal studies. Journal of Nutrition 133 10 (2003) 3275S-3284S
9. Gao Yt., McLaughlin J.K., and Blot W.J. Reduced risk of esophageal cancer associated with green tea consumption. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 86 (1994) 855-858
10. Hamilton-Miller J.M. Anti-cariogenic properties of tea (Camellia sinensis). Journal of Medical Microbiology 50 (2001) 299-302
11. Hara Y., and Honda M. The inhibition of α-amylase by tea polyphenols. Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 54 8 (1990) 1939-1945
12. Hsu S., Bollag W.B., Lewis J., Huang Q., Singh B., Sharawy M., et al. Green tea polyphenols induce differentiation and proliferation in epidermal keratinocytes. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2003) 10.1124/jpet.103.049734
13. (accessed on 20.09.2008).
14. Hu J., Nyren O., Wolk A., and Bergstrom R. Risk factors for oesophageal cancer in northeast China. International Journal of Cancer 57 (1994) 38-46
15. Huerta C., Lanes S.F., and García Rodríguez L.A. Respiratory medications and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Epidemiology 16 3 (2005) 360-366
16. Inoue M., Tajima K., and Mizutani M. Regular consumption of green tea and the risk of breast cancer recurrence, follow-up study from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan. Cancer Letters 167 (2001) 175-182
17. Iso H., Date C., Wakai K., Fukui M., and Tamakoshi A. The relationship between green tea and total Caffeine Intake and risk for self-reported type 2 diabetes among Japanese adults. Annals of Internal Medicine 144 (2006) 554-562
18. Ji B.T., Chow W.H., and Hsing A.W. Green tea consumption and the risk of pancreatic and colorectal cancers. International Journal of Cancer 70 (1997) 255-258
19. Kaegi E. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 2. Green tea [Review]. The task force on alternative therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ 158 (1998) 1033-1035
20. Katiyar S.K., and Elmets C.A. Green tea polyphenolic antioxidants and skin photoprotection [Review]. International Journal of Oncology 18 (2001) 1307-1313
21. Katiyar S.K., Ahmad N., and Mukhtar H. Green tea and skin. Archives of Dermatology 136 (2000) 989-994
22. Kris-Etherton P.M., Hecker K.D., and Bonanome A. Bioactive compounds in foods: Their role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. WCRF/AICR expert report, food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer: A global perspective. American Journal of Medicine 113 9B (2002) 71S-88S
23. Kumar N., Shibata D., Helm J., Coppola D., and Malafa M. Green tea polyphenols in the prevention of colon cancer. Front Bioscience 1 12 (2007) 2309-2315
24. Kuriyama S., Hozawa A., Ohmori K., Shimazu T., Matsui T., Ebihara S., et al. Green tea consumption and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study from the Tsurugaya Project. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 83 2 (2006) 355-361
25. Leong H., Mathur P.S., and Greene GeoffreyL. Inhibition of mammary tumorigenesis in the C3 (1)/SV40 mouse model by green tea. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 107 (2008) 359-369
26. Linden K.G., Carpenter P.M., McLaren C.E., Barr R.J., Hite P., Sun J.D., et al. Chemoprevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer, experience with a polyphenol from green tea. Recent Results Cancer Research 163 (2003) 165-171
27. Low Dog T., Riley D., and Carter T. Traditional and alternative therapies for breast cancer. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7 (2001) 36-47
28. Lyn-Cook B.D., Rogers T., Yan Y., Blann E.B., Kadlubar F.F., and Hammons G.J. Chemopreventive effects of tea extracts and various components on human pancreatic and prostate tumor cells in vitro. Nutrition and Cancer 35 (1999) 80-86
29. Mandel S.A., Amit T., Kalfon L., Reznichenko L., and Youdim M.B.H. Targeting multiple neurodegenerative diseases etiologies with multimodal-acting green tea catechins. Journal of Nutrition 138 8 (2008) 1578S-1583S
30. Matsuyama T., Tanaka Y., Kamimaki I., Nagao T., and Tokimitsu I. Catechin safely improved higher levels of fatness, blood pressure, and cholesterol in children. Obesity (Silver Spring) 16 6 (2008) 1338-1348
31. Miura Y., Chiba T., and Tomita I. Tea catechins prevent the development of atherosclerosis in apoprotein E-deficient mice. Journal of Nutrition 131 (2001) 27-32
32. Murase T., Haramizu S., Shimotoyodome A., and Tokimitsu I. Reduction of diet-induced obesity by a combination of tea-catechin intake and regular swimming. International Journal of Obesity (London) 30 3 (2006) 561-568
33. Nagao T., Hase T., and Tokimitsu I. A green tea extract high in catechins reduces body fat and cardiovascular risks in humans. Obesity (Silver Spring) 15 6 (2007) 1473-1483
34. Nakachi K., Suemasu K., Suga K., Takeo T., Imai K., and Higashi Y. Influence of drinking green tea on breast cancer malignancy among Japanese patients. Japan Journal of Cancer Research 89 (1998) 254-261
35. Nurk E., Refsum H., Drevon C.A., Tell G.S., Nygaard H.A., Engedal K., et al. Intake of flavonoid-rich wine, tea, and chocolate by elderly men and women is associated with better cognitive test performance. Journal of Nutrition 139 1 (2009) 120-127
36. Ohno Y., Aoki K., Obata K., and Morrison A.S. Case-control study of urinary bladder cancer in metropolitan Nagoya. National Cancer Institute Monographs 69 (1985) 229-234
37. Ohno Y., Wakai K., and Genka K. Tea consumption and lung cancer risk: A case-control study in Okinawa, Japan. Japan Journal of Cancer Research 86 (1995) 1027-1034
38. Ostrowska J., Luczaj W., Kasacka I., Rozanski A., and Skrzydlewska E. Green tea protects against ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation in rat organs. Alcohol 32 (2004) 25-32
39. Pianetti S., Guo S., Kavanagh K.T., and Sonenshein G.E. Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate inhibits Her-2/neu signaling, proliferation, and transformed phenotype of breast cancer cells. Cancer Research 62 (2002) 652-655
40. Picard D. The biochemistry of green tea polyphenols and their potential application in human skin cancer. Alternative Medicine Review 1 (1996) 31-42
41. Setiawan V.W., Zhang Z.F., and Yu G.P. Protective effect of green tea on the risks of chronic gastritis and stomach cancer. International Journal of Cancer 92 (2001) 600-604
42. Shankar S., Ganapathy S., and Srivastava R.K. Green tea polyphenols, biology and therapeutic implications in cancer. Front Bioscience 1 12 (2007) 4881-4899
43. Shim J.H., Kang M.G., Kim Y.H., Roberts C., and Lee I.P. Chemopreventive effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) among cigarette smoke. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 4 (1995) 387-391
44. Song J.M., and Seong B.L. Tea catechins as a potential alternative anti-infectious agent. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 5 (2007) 497
45. The benefits of green tea. Available from: (accessed on 15.09.2008).
46. Thompson, S. (2008). Chinese Green Tea: An introduction to the recent scientific research. Gaia Research Institute. Available from: (accessed on 20.09.2008).
47. Tsubono Y., Nishino Y., and Komatsu S. Green tea and the risk of gastric cancer in Japan. New England Journal of Medicine 344 9 (2001) 675-676
48. Vasisht K., Sharma P.D., Karan M., Rakesh D., Vyas S., Sethi S., et al. Study to promote the Industrial Exploitation of Green Tea Polyphenols in India (2003), ICS-UNIDO, Italy 15-22
49. Wakai K., Ohno Y., Obata K., and Aoki K. Prognostic significance of selected lifestyle factors in urinary bladder cancer. Japan Journal of Cancer Research 84 (1993) 1223-1229
50. Yang M., Yoshikawa M., Arashidani K., and Kawamoto T. Effects of green tea on carcinogen-induced hepatic CYP1As in C57BL/6 mice. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 12 (2003) 391-395
51. Yang Y.C., Lu F.H., Wu J.S., Wu C.H., and Chang C.J. The protective effect of habitual tea consumption on hypertension. Archives of Internal Medicine 164 14 (2004) 1534-1540
52. Yung S.L., Yao J.T., Jyh S.T., and Jen K.L. Factors affecting the levels of tea polyphenols and caffeine in tea leaves. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 5 7 (2003) 1864-1873
53. Zhong L., Furne J.K., and Levitt M.D. An extract of black, green, and mulberry teas causes malabsorption of carbohydrate but not of triacylglycerol in healthy volunteers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 84 3 (2006) 551-555
54. Yu G.P., Hsieh C.C., Wang L.Y., Yu S.Z., Li X.L., and Jin T.H. Green-tea consumption and risk of stomach cancer: A population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China. Cancer Causes Control 6 (1995) 532-538