Ohishi Tomokazu, Goto Shingo, Monira Pervin, Isemura Mamoru, Nakamura Yoriyuki
Tea Science Center, University of Shizuoka, 52-1, Yada, Shizuoka 422- 8526; Japan. ; Present address: Division of Citrus Research, Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, NARO, 485-6, Okitsunakacho, Shizuoka, 424-0292, Japan.. Japan.
Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem. 2016;15(2):74-90. doi: 10.2174/1871523015666160915154443.
Green tea has been shown to have beneficial effects against a variety of diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Through cellular, animal, and human experiments, green tea and its major component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Our previous findings have indicated that green tea and EGCG suppress the gene and/or protein expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related enzymes.
Using bibliographic databases, particularly PubMed (provided by the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, United States), we examined the potential usefulness of green tea/EGCG for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases in human clinical and epidemiological studies. We also reviewed results from cellular and animal experiments and proposed action mechanisms.
Most of the results from the human studies indicated the beneficial effects of green tea and tea catechins against inflammatory diseases. The cellular and animal studies also provided evidence for the favorable effects of green tea/EGCG. These results are compatible with our previous findings and can be largely explained by a mechanism wherein green tea/EGCG acts as an antioxidant to scavenge reactive oxygen species, leading to attenuation of nuclear factor-κB activity.
Since green tea and EGCG have multiple targets and act in a pleiotropic manner, we may consider their usage to improve the quality of life in patients with inflammatory disease. Green tea and EGCG have beneficial health effects and no severe adverse effects; however, care should be taken to avoid overdosage, which may induce deleterious effects including hepatic injury.
绿茶已被证明对多种疾病具有有益作用，如癌症、肥胖症、糖尿病、心血管疾病和神经退行性疾病。通过细胞、动物和人体实验，绿茶及其主要成分表没食子儿茶素-3-没食子酸酯（EGCG）已被证明具有抗炎作用。我们之前的研究结果表明，绿茶和EGCG可抑制炎性细胞因子和炎症相关酶的基因和/或蛋白表达。
利用文献数据库，特别是美国国立医学图书馆、美国国立卫生研究院提供的PubMed（网址为http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed），我们在人体临床和流行病学研究中考察了绿茶/EGCG在预防和治疗炎性疾病方面的潜在效用。我们还回顾了细胞和动物实验的结果，并提出了作用机制。
大多数人体研究结果表明绿茶和茶儿茶素对炎性疾病具有有益作用。细胞和动物研究也为绿茶/EGCG的有利作用提供了证据。这些结果与我们之前的研究结果相符，并且在很大程度上可以通过绿茶/EGCG作为抗氧化剂清除活性氧，从而导致核因子-κB活性减弱的机制来解释。
由于绿茶和EGCG具有多个靶点并以多效性方式发挥作用，我们可以考虑使用它们来改善炎性疾病患者的生活质量。绿茶和EGCG具有有益的健康作用且无严重不良反应；然而，应注意避免过量摄入，过量摄入可能会导致包括肝损伤在内的有害影响。
