If you are one of those wondering whether you'll be victim of Alzheimer's disease or any of those 21st century neurodegenerative diseases, green tea may be a possible option to try to avoid them.

In a recent study published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal, researchers from the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China, have found that Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenolic constituent of green tea that is known to exert anticancer properties and already known for its capability to inhibit carcinogenesis, may be used for the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases [10]. Image left: зеленый чай / green teaby panafotkas under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

CAMELIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camelia
Common name: Green tea

Obesity is, together with cancer, one of the 21st century problems in developed countries, contributing to increased mortality. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2006 and 2007–2008, over two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and over one-third are obese [1,2].

Fortunately some scientists and researchers keep on investigating some foods or supplements such as green tea, fiber, and calcium supplements or dairy products that may complement a healthy lifestyle to produce small weight losses or prevent weight gain over time [3]. Image left: China green tea by Marius B under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Some of the properties and health benefits of green tea, rich in Polyphenols, and some of the active constituents that may be linked to this weight-loss properties are discussed in this article.

CAMELIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camelia
Common name: Green tea

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol with anticancer properties, was already known for its capability to inhibit carcinogenesis [11], in spite the mechanism how EGCG achieved this wasn't still completely clear.

It seems that EGCG affects multiple biological pathways [12], one of the ways these polyphenols achieve their anti-cancerous properties in multiple types of cancers. However one of the reasons why researchers couldn't profit from its anti-cancer properties was the inability to specifically reach tumors deploying EGCG via intravenous administration [10], so the deployment of EGCG in the blood stream didn't reach the cancer cells and couldn't be effectevely used against them. Image left: Tea plantation by sarahemcc under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Now, a group of researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, have discovered an effective way of deploying EGCG in a way that it will be able to effectively reach its target, cancer cells [10].

The research showed very promissing results, with two-thirds of tumours treated with this new method shrinking or disappearing withing one month of treatment with no side effects to normal tissues [10]. But how did they achieve EGCG to be deployed so effectevely to cancer cells?

CAMELLIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camellia
Common name: Green tea

Green tea has been claimed to have many health benefits and numerous properties for which it is known and used worldwide, some of these benefits and properties include claims about its anti-cancer properties, its ability to lower cholesterol, protect the skin against oxidation and aging, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders, being a powerful antioxidant with even more antioxidant capacity than some vitamins as vitamin C or E, and last but not least, green tea diet claims green tea is able to help you lower your weight, but, how much truth is behind that statement? Let's find out what scientist and doctors said about such claim and which scientific studies and clinical trials can confirm or deny such statement.

CAMELIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camelia
Common name: Green tea

Green tea extract green tea extract high in catechins reduces body fat [7]