Tea {Camellia sinensis) and its multifactorial health benefits

Abstract

Tea, a daily beverage for time immemorial, has already attracted very wide interest for its ability to control inflammation, improve immune function, suppress autoimmune disease and prevent cancer. The active components of tea responsible for such biological effects are known to be Catechins (known as Polyphenols), Theanines and Polysaccharides. Polyphenols constitute seven forms including Epigalocatechingallate (EGCG). Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and immunomodulatory activities of green and black tea have been getting more clinical importance in this frame of time. Whether we can perform preliminary studies with normal healthy human volunteers is going to be the talk of the town in next decade.