Article Presented by:
Jon M. Stout
On any day around the globe, nearly two thirds of the population drinks tea, of one kind or another. 20% of daily global tea consumption is green tea. Used for various purposes in Asian countries for centuries; green tea is now a very popular North American beverage also. New research is emerging that suggests that green tea plays a significant role in prohibiting and in some cases, reversing common mutations that are considered carcinogens (cancer causing agents). Furthermore, the studies are also uncovering facts that indicate that green tea holds healing properties that slow the aging process and other age related illness and ailments.
Western culture has adopted a love for green tea in recent history, and as such, its pharmacological active compounds benefits have fallen under intense scrutiny as researchers seek to identify what, if any, benefit this beverage possesses in eradicating or avoiding cancers and other diseases usually associated with the promotion of free radicals. Recently, a research team from the Department of Dermatology at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, conducted a study to see if green tea possessed antimutagenic qualities.
The results, while hardly conclusive and more study is likely needed, indicate that green tea does, in fact, possess some qualities that seem to thwart the creation or spread of certain mutations that are thought to contribute to the creation and spread of cancer, contribute to aging, and lead to other diseases associated with aging.
Interestingly, this research carefully studied water extracts from green tea, known also as WEGT, and their significant attributes, including green tea polyphenols (GTP). The study attempted to identify antimutagenic activity that was a direct result of interaction with WEGT, and subsequently, GTP. The results of the study found that WEGT and GTP significantly inhibited the reverse mutation induced by benzo [alpha] pyrene (BP), 2-aminofluorene, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), as well as methanol extracted from coal tar in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and/or TA98 in the presence of a rat-liver microsomal activation system.
GTP was also found to inhibit gene forward mutation in V79 cells treated with AFB1 and BP. Another benefit that was identified was that the WEGT appeared to decrease the frequency of sister-chromatid interactions and chromosomal abnormalities in V79 cells when treated with AFB1. When GTP was added, during and after nitrosation of methylurea, the results in a dose dependent fashion were the inhibition of mutagenicity.
The study also found that the antimutagenic activity of GTP implies that it may affect carcinogen metabolism, DNA adduct structure, the interaction of ultimate carcinogen, or the scavenging of free radicals. Free radical inhibition is terrifically difficult and the results of this study could be an indication that green tea is a very effective natural source of accomplishing this restriction. This perhaps could hold significance as new studies are formulated to ascertain the healthful benefits of GTP.
Green tea has fallen under much scrutiny as its alleged benefits have been touted for centuries, but it popularity in regions of the West have increased dramatically in recent years. Many ancient cultures believed it possessed healing powers and even the ability to ward off disease and mutations, but this is still relatively new to countries in Europe, Canada, and the United States.
The study noted as 223(3):273-85 is yet one more confirmation that green tea in solid or beverage form possesses restorative and healthful powers that are just now being discovered. Green tea likely holds a potential that is relatively untapped.
With further study, researchers are becoming increasingly confident that consumption of green tea in any form might be an easy and inexpensive method of giving the body another weapon in its life long fight against diseases such as cancer. Additional studies also are beginning to examine whether or not green tea possess other qualities that can inhibit the mutation of certain compounds that contribute to disease and aging. The benefits of green tea are beginning to be unlocked and additional discoveries seem to be on the horizon.
About the Author:
Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit http://www.goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.
