pretty good article
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/5/4/372.htmlDescription and Constituents
Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world today, second only to water, and its medicinal properties have been widely explored. The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is a member of the Theaceae family, and black, oolong, and green tea are produced from its leaves. It is an evergreen shrub or tree and can grow to heights of 30 feet, but is usually pruned to 2-5 feet for cultivation. The leaves are dark green, alternate and oval, with serrated edges, and the blossoms are white, fragrant, and appear in clusters or singly. Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea production does not involve oxidation of young tea leaves. Green tea is produced from steaming fresh leaves at high temperatures, thereby inactivating the oxidizing enzymes and leaving the polyphenol content intact. The polyphenols found in tea are more commonly known as flavanols or catechins and comprise 30-40 percent of the extractable solids of dried green tea leaves. The main catechins in green tea are epicatechin, epicatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), with the latter being the highest in concentration. Green tea polyphenols have demonstrated significant antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, thermogenic, probiotic, and antimicrobial properties in numerous human, animal, and in vitro studies.1,2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mechanisms of Action
The anticarcinogenic properties of green tea polyphenols, mainly EGCG, are likely a result of inhibition of biochemical markers of tumor initiation and promotion, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of cell replication rates, thus retarding the growth and development of neoplasms.3,4 Their antioxidant potential is directly related to the combination of aromatic rings and hydroxyl groups that make up their structure, and is a result of binding and neutralization of free radicals by the hydroxyl groups. In addition, green tea polyphenols stimulate the activity of hepatic detoxification enzymes, thereby promoting detoxification of xenobiotic compounds, and are also capable of chelating metal ions, such as iron, that can generate radical oxygen species.5,6
Green tea polyphenols inhibit the production of arachidonic acid metabolites such as pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes, resulting in a decreased inflammatory response. Human and animal studies have demonstrated EGCG's ability to block inflammatory responses to ultraviolet A and B radiation as well as significantly inhibiting the neutrophil migration that occurs during the inflammatory process.7-9
Research on green tea's thermogenic properties indicates a synergistic interaction between its caffeine content and catechin polyphenols may result in prolonged stimulation of thermogenesis. Studies have also shown green tea extracts are capable of reducing fat digestion by inhibiting digestive enzymes.10,11 Although the exact mechanism is unknown, green tea catechins have been shown to significantly raise levels of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria while decreasing levels of numerous potential pathogens.12 Studies have also demonstrated green tea's antibacterial properties against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative species.13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clinical Indications
Cancer Prevention/Inhibition: Several studies have demonstrated green tea polyphenols' preventative and inhibitory effects against tumor formation and growth. While the studies are not conclusive, green tea polyphenols, particularly EGCG, may be effective in preventing cancer of the prostate, breast, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and colon.14 There is also some evidence that green tea polyphenols may be chemopreventative or inhibitory toward lung, skin, and liver cancer,15-17 bladder and ovarian tumors,18,19 leukemia,20 and oral leukoplakia.21
Antioxidant Applications: Many chronic disease states and inflammatory conditions are a result of oxidative stress and subsequent generation of free radicals. Some of these include heart disease (resulting from LDL oxidation), renal disease and failure, several types of cancer, skin exposure damage caused by ultraviolet (A and B) rays, as well as diseases associated with aging. Green tea polyphenols are potent free radical scavengers due to the hydroxyl groups in their chemical structure. The hydroxyl groups can form complexes with free radicals and neutralize them, preventing the progression of the disease process.22
Obesity/Weight Control: Recent studies on green tea's thermogenic properties have demonstrated a synergistic interaction between caffeine and catechin polyphenols that appears to prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis. A human study of green tea extract containing 90 mg EGCG taken three times daily concluded that men taking the extract burned 266 more calories per day than did those in the placebo group and that green tea extract's thermogenic effects may play a role in controlling obesity.23 Green tea polyphenols have also beeen shown to markedly inhibit digestive lipases in vitro, resulting in decreased lipolysis of triglycerides, which may translate to reduced fat digestion in humans.10,11
Intestinal Dysbiosis and Infection: A small study in Japan demonstrated a special green tea catechin preparation (30.5% EGCG) was able to positively affect intestinal dysbiosis in nursing home patients by raising levels of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria while lowering levels of Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and eubacteria. Levels of pathogenic bacterial metabolites were also decreased.12 An in vitro study also demonstrated green tea's antimicrobial activity against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria that cause cystitis, pyelonephritis, diarrhea, dental caries,24 pneumonia, and skin infections.13
Other Applications: Sickle cell anemia is characterized by a population of "dense cells" that may trigger vaso-occlusion and the painful sickle cell "crisis." One study demonstrated that 0.13 mg/mL green tea extract was capable of inhibiting dense-cell formation by 50 percent.25
Another potential therapeutic application of green tea is the treatment of psoriasis. The combination therapy of psoralens and ultraviolet A radiation is highly effective but has unfortunately been shown to substantially increase the risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. An in vitro study using human and mouse skin demonstrated that pre- and post-treatment with green tea extract inhibited DNA damage induced by the psoralen/ultraviolet A radiation exposure.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dosage and Toxicity
Green tea is generally considered a safe, non-toxic beverage and consumption is usually without side-effects. The average cup of green tea, however, contains from 10-50 mg of caffeine and overconsumption may cause irritability, insomnia, nervousness, and tachycardia. Because studies on its possible teratogenic effect are inconclusive, caffeine consumption is contraindicated during pregnancy. Lactating women should also limit caffeine intake to avoid sleep disorders in infants.26
The dosage for green tea beverage varies, depending on the clinical situation and desired therapeutic effect. The phenolic content of green tea infusion is between 50-100 mg polyphenols per cup, depending on species, harvesting variables, and brewing methods,27 with typical dosages ranging from 3 to 10 cups per day. Cancer preventative effects are usually associated with dosages in the higher end of the range.28 Green tea extracts standardized to 80-percent total polyphenols are dosed at an average of 500-1500 mg per day.