*3.3.4 Antiviral properties*

Patients suffering from infectious disorders, including COVID-19, may benefit from green tea's immunomodulatory and antiviral characteristics [50, 51]. There are several types of research on the antiviral activities of green tea, but most of them are based on traditional accounts [8, 10, 32, 52, 53]. Despite the fact that green tea has a special composition and ratio of bioactive components, the mechanism of action and distinctive features of green tea remain a mystery. It is still possible that matcha green tea has antiviral properties (by inactivating SARS-CoV-2), as proven by Ohgitani et al. in one of the few trials, but additional research is required [54]. Chemicals found in green tea that


#### **Table 1.**

*Summary of studies on green tea's health benefits.*

have been researched for their putative properties and possible modes of action are listed in **Table 1**.

### **3.4 Anti-inflammatory properties**

Many disorders are accompanied by an inflammatory response. Chemicals that encourage the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may cause cell damage and long-term dysfunction throughout the body, can induce inflammation and cell damage. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds have the primary function of scavenging ROS and inhibiting inflammatory signaling [78].

EGCG, the main bioactive component of green tea, may reduce inflammationrelated side effects, such as lung damage and dysfunction, after major heart surgery, including cardiopulmonary bypass [79, 80]. Gallstone development is less likely when the inflammatory state is controlled by this molecule. Several genes regulate high blood pressure, and inflammation and vascular remodeling are thought to play a role in its development [70, 81]. The consumption of green tea drinks containing high levels of bioactive components that regulate inflammatory processes has been shown to reduce the risk of developing hepatitis.

## *3.4.1 Cognitive enhancement and neurodegenerative disease prevention*

Drinking green tea has been shown to improve mental clarity and cognitive functioning. EGCG is the key ingredient for these health benefits [76]. Age-related cognitive declines can be influenced by several variables, including lifestyle [82]. Caffeine consumption, especially in older women, appears to have a protective effect against cognitive deterioration [73]. Caffeine's ability to reverse oxidative processes and reduce neuroinflammation may help keep the brain healthy as we age [74]. Memory loss may be caused by oxidative stress, which may cause neuronal damage. As a potent anti-inflammatory agent, caffeine administration may help to keep this condition at bay [71]. Caffeine's protective effects on the nervous system and its ability to delay the onset of neurodegenerative illnesses are directly related to its ability to reduce amyloid- deposits in the brain [72]. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation plays an important role in neurodegenerative disorders. EGCG inhibits LPS-induced reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production, showing that it is a potent and effective neuroprotective treatment for neurological diseases caused by inflammation [77]. Consumption of EGCG improves cognitive performance, insulin sensitivity, and brain amyloid- formation; reduces neuroinflammation; and prevents neuropathologies associated with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
