title: Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohishi
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Pervin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monira
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isemura
authors.forename: Yoriyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
keywords: Catechin; IL-1β matrix metalloproteinase; NF-κB; TNF-α; cyclooxygenases; green tea; reactive oxygen
  species