title: Camellia sinensis: historical perspectives and future prospects.
abstract: As the source of brewed tea preparations, Camellia sinensis has operated for centuries at the interface of agriculture, politics, and biology. The purpose of this review is to present an inter-disciplinary survey of issues surrounding cultivation, processing, and consumption of the tea plant. Particular attention is given to the biologic effects of tea: first, assessing at the level of human physiology its value as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent; second, examining effects of production upon local ecosystems, due to resource demands and industrial farming practices. In sum, C. sinensis emerges as a potentially powerful contributor to both public health and economic growth if its role is managed from a prospective, sustainable, and evidence-based vantage.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. sp.jhem@gmail.com
authors.forename: Salil H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000517:prevention & control; D013662:Tea
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013662:Tea