Posted on November 15, 2007 in Latest News
Tea was first cultivated in India and China. Today, around the world there would be approximately hundreds of millions of tea drinker. Mainly there are 3 varieties of tea- black, green and oolong. Green tea (Camellia sinesis) is considered to have various health benefits. It is prepared from unfermented tea leaves. It has high concentration of antioxidants.
According to the research conducted at the University of Michigan Health System, components present in the green tea are beneficial to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The research shows that green tea has a potent anti-inflammatory element called Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This compound (EGCG) acts as an effective inhibitor of the production of the inflammatory and joint damaging molecule of the immune system.
EGCG was also found to repress the connective tissue’s inflammatory products in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Scientists involved in the research claimed that their findings can be of great help in the alternate therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.
In order to check the inhibitory property of the green tea compound, scientists isolated the connective tissue known as synovial fibroblast from the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patient. These tissues were then cultured and nurtured with the green tea component. With the help of a pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, fibroblasts were stimulated. Then the inhibitory actions of EGCG on the activities of the molecules that cause the wearing of the joints – IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) – were observed.
The studies show that EGCG molecule or synthetically derived molecules from EGCG might be beneficial in inhibiting the joint destruction related to rheumatoid arthritis. Next step of the research is to find the EGCG inhibitory role on gene expression.
So, it’s time to say goodbye to your regular black tea. Switch to healthy green tea to avoid chances of arthritis. Drink green tea to keep yourself healthy and young.
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