Preface

Plants have always offered an inexhaustible source of active compounds for human health and well-being. Plants and their preparations are used in various traditional medicines for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease. Plants and traditional remedies derived from them continue to be an important source of inspiration for so-called contemporary medicine, which can aid in the (re)discovery of new treatments, as evidenced by the success of the antimalarial artemisinin. The discovery of several important bioactive chemicals in plants used in traditional Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai, Korean, African, American, and European medicines shows that artemisinin is not an isolated example.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and the second most consumed after water. Based on evidence from cellular, animal, epidemiological, and clinical studies, tea consumption has been linked to several health benefits, including cancer chemoprevention, chronic inflammation, heart and liver diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Even though not all health advantages have been consistently established, several clinical trial findings have provided tangible data proving green tea's health benefits, including cancer-protective effects. The effects of tea processing and storage, as well as additives, on the characteristics and health activity of tea have also been investigated.

The aim of the present book, *Recent Advances in the Health Benefits of Tea*, is to combine review and research chapters to elucidate tea's health benefits, including the molecular targets, biological processes, and mechanisms of action involved.

> **Dr. Christophe Hano and Dr. Samantha Drouet** Department of Biochemistry, University of Orléans, Orléans, France

**1**

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Benefits

*and Javad Sharifi-Rad*

Green Tea and Its Numerous Health

*Ruhul Amin, Biplab Kumar Dey, Nasreddine El Omari,* 

*Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Samantha Drouet, Christophe Hano* 

Green tea is one of the most popular antioxidant drinks in the world. To make green tea, you must first remove the leaves from *Camellia sinensis*. A form of tea made from unoxidized green leaves from a tea plantation is called green tea. Several other studies have been undertaken over the past year to evaluate whether consuming green tea and extracts has any health benefits. In order to get the health benefits of green tea, the nutrients in the tea must be absorbed. Green tea's flavonoids and caffeine, which serve to accelerate the elimination of metabolites, contribute to the antioxidant function of green tea. Cancer, heart disease, and aging appear to be the main diseases to be reduced or prevented by these antioxidants. The pharmaceutical and culinary industries can use green tea due to its high potency and lack of adverse effects. Green tea is touted as a natural remedy for a wide range of health issues. Through this, we can better understand the immediate benefits of green tea. Prescription green tea components are discussed along with their antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral

actions in relation to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

**Keywords:** green tea, antioxidant, cardiovascular diseases, health benefits

The *Camellia Sinensis* plant, from which tea is produced, is cultivated in more than 30 countries throughout the globe [1, 2]. White tea, green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are the four varieties of tea produced [3, 4]. This type of tea is made from the same plant, *C. Sinensis*, as the previous varieties. White tea undergoes the least processing, followed by green tea, which are both unfermented, oolong tea, which is partially fermented, and black tea, which is fermented, all of which undergo an oxidation process before being consumed [5]. Compare to other teas, green tea is among the least oxidized. Green tea is available in many forms, such as tea bags. Loose-leaf, instant power, and supplement sold in capsule form. It is made from unfermented leaves with minimal processing and contains catechin (80–90%) and flavanols (<10%) [6]. It provides a high concentration of antioxidants called polyphenols. Currently, green tea is mostly consumed in China, Japan, and Korea. It is responsible for improving blood circulation, lowering cholesterol
