2015, Pages 99–104
Chapter 10 – Use of Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze) as a Hepatoprotective Agent in Geriatric Conditions
Camellia sinensis (L.)
Kuntze, a plant native to China and Southeast Asia, is globally a very
important plant for humans. The black and green teas made from the
leaves have been consumed by humans for thousands of years as a
stimulant, and tea is today the second most widely consumed beverage
after water. Additionally, its habitual consumption has long been
associated with health benefits against a wide array of diseases and
conditions, including diabetes, inflammation, clastogenesis, vomiting,
diarrhea, cardiac ailments, and several types of cancer. More recently, a
large number of scientific studies with experimental animals has shown
tea to reduce liver injury caused by alcohol, carbon tetrachloride,
ischemic reperfusion, lead, viral hepatitis, phenobarbitol, microcystin,
azathioprine, galactosamine, lipopolysaccharide, and cypermethrin.
Studies have also shown that tea prevents chemical-induced
hepatocarcinogenesis. This chapter summarizes the results related to the
hepatoprotective properties of tea, and also emphasizes the aspects
that warrant future research to establish its utility in geriatric
conditions in humans.
Keywords
- Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze;
- black tea;
- green tea;
- hepatoprotective
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
