Xiao Shuangling, Li Yi, Jiang Haiyan, Hou Sitong, Wang Yaoyao, Wang Di, Teng Jie
School of Land Resources and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
College of Agriculture, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Foods. 2025 Jun 11;14(12):2054. doi: 10.3390/foods14122054.
Depression, commonly known as unipolar affective disorder, is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in contemporary society, affecting individuals to varying degrees. Tea is one of the three major non-alcoholic beverages globally; it has a rich history of consumption and is associated with numerous health and nutritional benefits. This review systematically summarizes the antidepressant effects of various bioactive compounds found in tea, drawing upon research findings in the field of tea's functional health. It elucidates the impact of tea's bioactive components on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the nervous system, the immune system, intestinal microflora, and the monoaminergic system, among other physiological sites, to achieve antidepressant effects. These effects primarily involve enhancing neural signaling pathways, regulating neural signaling molecule levels, and reducing neuroinflammation. Tea may normalize the body's nervous system by bolstering immune function, alleviating or eliminating cellular inflammation to maintain healthy homeostasis, or improving intestinal flora and mitigating stress to prevent or treat depressive disorders. Additionally, the potential social support derived from tea-drinking activities, such as cultural rituals and interpersonal communication, may contribute to its antidepressant effects. This review discusses and analyzes the current research status regarding the antidepressant effects of tea and highlights that tea and its active ingredients can be utilized to prevent and alleviate depression.
抑郁症，通常被称为单相情感障碍，是当代社会中最普遍的精神疾病之一，不同程度地影响着个体。茶是全球三大非酒精饮料之一；其饮用历史悠久，且具有诸多健康和营养益处。本综述系统总结了茶中发现的各种生物活性化合物的抗抑郁作用，借鉴了茶的功能健康领域的研究成果。它阐明了茶的生物活性成分对下丘脑 - 垂体 - 肾上腺（HPA）轴、神经系统、免疫系统、肠道微生物群和单胺能系统等其他生理部位的影响，以实现抗抑郁作用。这些作用主要包括增强神经信号通路、调节神经信号分子水平以及减轻神经炎症。茶可能通过增强免疫功能、减轻或消除细胞炎症以维持健康的内环境稳定，或改善肠道菌群并减轻压力来预防或治疗抑郁症，从而使身体的神经系统恢复正常。此外，诸如文化仪式和人际交流等饮茶活动所带来的潜在社会支持，可能也有助于其抗抑郁效果。本综述讨论并分析了当前关于茶的抗抑郁作用的研究现状，并强调茶及其活性成分可用于预防和缓解抑郁症。
