TITLE:
Cardioprotective effects of tea and its catechins
AUTHORS:
Nana Li, Yue Zhao, Yuerong Liang
KEYWORDS:
Camellia sinensis; Hypertension; Antioxidant; Metabolic Syndrome; Endothelial Dysfunction; Cardiac Hypertrophy; Mitochondria
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.4A,
April
18,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Tea is rich in
polyphenolic catechins which are beneficial to health. There have been evidences
suggesting that habitual tea consumption may reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease (CVD). Intake of tea or catechins isolated from tea was shown to
inhibit the development of CVD in population studies and in animal models. Many
possible pathways and mechanisms were investigated. There have been evidences
showing that tea and tea catechins reduced the risk of CVD by enhancing antioxidant activity, attenuating metabolic syndrome, inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme, improving
endothelial dys-function, preventing cardiac hypertrophy and protecting
mitochondria from damage.