Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis): A Current Update on Use in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

The tea plant (C. sinensis) has traditionally been consumed worldwide as “tea” for its many health benefits, with the potential for the prevention and therapy of various conditions. Regardless of its long history, the use of tea plants in modern times seems not to have changed much, as the beverage remains the most popular form. This review aimed to compile scientific information about the role and action of tea plants, as well as their status concerning clinical applications, based on the currently available evidence, with a focus on metabolic syndrome, mainly covering obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It has been recognized that these diseases pose a significant threat to public health, and the development of effective treatment and prevention strategies is necessary but still challenging. In this article, the potential benefits of tea plants and their derived bioactive components (such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate) as anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-cardiovascular agents are clearly shown and emphasized, along with their mechanisms of action. However, according to the status of the clinical translation of tea plants, particularly in drug development, more substantial efforts in well-designed, randomized, controlled trials are required to expand their applications in treating the three major metabolic disorders and avoiding the toxicity caused by overconsumption.

Potential Hypoglycemic and Antilipidemic Activity of Polyphenols from Passiflora ligularis (Granadilla)

“…Plasma glycemic concentrations are positively regulated based on different studies [34][35][36]. For the specific effect of polyphenols from Camellia sinensis from tea, it has been reported as hypoglycemic activity based on concentrations ranging from 100 to 250 mg per kilogram of body weight in murine models [35,36].…”

“…Decreasing trends with respect to glucose concentrations vary depending on multiple factors. Dose-related studies show that there is still work to do in order to decipher the specific activity of polyphenols on main metabolic pathways [34]. Results in this work focused on different polyphenol concentrations (doses of 1.0 to 3.0 g/L) in drinking water rather than milligrams of polyphenol extracts per kilogram of body weight in rats.…”

Translational Research on Bee Pollen as a Source of Nutrients: A Scoping Review from Bench to Real World

“…It is worth underlining that the examples of BP that we enumerated in this section are all derived from well-known plants that have evidence-based antidiabetic effects. Indeed, Camellia sinensis [ 233 , 234 ] and Fagopyrum esculentum [ 235 , 236 ] were largely reported to exert antidiabetic, anti-dyslipidemia, and protective cardiovascular effects in animals and humans. Echium plantagineum oil [ 237 ] and Quercus sp.…”

Impact of Fermentation on the Phytochemical Content and Biological Properties of Moringa oleifera Lam. Shoot Teas

“…Over the past decade, growing incidence of chronic diseases on one hand, and favorable reports on the health promoting attributes of tea on the other hand, has increased tea consumption and popularity worldwide. [1,2] With tea consumption as an integral part of modern life, extensive research had been focused on various aspects of tea production and pharmacology in recent times. Meanwhile, research in herbal teas is still relatively sparse, despite a growing trend in consumer interest.…”

“…Tea traditionally derived from Camellia sinensis remains the most famous non‐alcoholic natural beverage globally, consumed by millions of people across the world for its unique aroma, flavor, taste, and beneficial health properties. Over the past decade, growing incidence of chronic diseases on one hand, and favorable reports on the health promoting attributes of tea on the other hand, has increased tea consumption and popularity worldwide [1,2] . With tea consumption as an integral part of modern life, extensive research had been focused on various aspects of tea production and pharmacology in recent times.…”