» Articles » PMID: 38056775

Biological Potential and Mechanisms of Tea's Bioactive Compounds: An Updated Review

Overview
Journal J Adv Res
Date 2023 Dec 6
PMID 38056775
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Tea (Camellia sinensis) has a rich history and is widely consumed across many countries, and is categorized into green tea, white tea, oolong tea, yellow tea, black tea, and dark tea based on the level of fermentation. Based on a review of previous literature, the commonly recognized bioactive substances in tea include tea polyphenols, amino acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, terpenoids, macro minerals, trace elements, and vitamins, which have been known to have various potential health benefits, such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, and anti-obesity properties, cardiovascular protection, immune regulation, and control of the intestinal microbiota. Most studies have only pointed out the characteristics of tea's bioactivities, so a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological characteristics and mechanisms of tea's bioactivities and their use risks are vital.

Aim Of Review: This paper aims to summarize tea's bioactive substances of tea and their pharmacological characteristics and mechanisms, providing a scientific basis for the application of bioactive substances in tea and outlining future research directions for the study of bioactive substances in tea.

Key Scientific Concepts Of Review: This review summarizes the main biologically active substances, pharmacological effects, and mechanisms and discusses the potential risks. It may help researchers grasp more comprehensive progress in the study of tea bioactive substances to further promote the application of tea as a natural bioactive substance in the medical field.

Citing Articles

Green Tea: Current Knowledge and Issues.

Radeva-Ilieva M, Stoeva S, Hvarchanova N, Georgiev K Foods. 2025; 14(5).

PMID: 40077449 PMC: 11899301. DOI: 10.3390/foods14050745.


The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids.

Xiao Y, Chen L, Xu Y, He X, Gan S, Yin F Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(4).

PMID: 40002949 PMC: 11852070. DOI: 10.3390/ani15040467.


Effects of Pile-Fermentation Duration on the Taste Quality of Single-Cultivar Large-Leaf Dark Tea: Insights from Metabolomics and Microbiomics.

Yang W, Chen R, Sun L, Li Q, Lai X, Zhang Z Foods. 2025; 14(4).

PMID: 40002114 PMC: 11854364. DOI: 10.3390/foods14040670.


Effects of Different Kinds of Fruit Juice on Flavor Quality and Hypoglycemic Activity of Black Tea.

Cui H, Mao Y, Zhao Y, Huang W, Zhang J Foods. 2025; 14(4).

PMID: 40002032 PMC: 11854400. DOI: 10.3390/foods14040588.


Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the collagen accumulation of oral submucous fibrosis induced by arecoline.

Gao G, Lin C, Li R, Xie X, Luo H Front Pharmacol. 2025; 16:1540559.

PMID: 39959427 PMC: 11825517. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1540559.


References
1.
Hwang J, Kim K, Ryu S, Lee B . Caffeine prevents LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells and zebrafish. Chem Biol Interact. 2016; 248:1-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.01.020. View

2.
Qin Y, Xiong L, Li M, Liu J, Wu H, Qiu H . Preparation of Bioactive Polysaccharide Nanoparticles with Enhanced Radical Scavenging Activity and Antimicrobial Activity. J Agric Food Chem. 2018; 66(17):4373-4383. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00388. View

3.
Zhou H, Xia C, Yang Y, Warusawitharana H, Liu X, Tu Y . The Prevention Role of Theaflavin-3,3'-digallate in Angiotensin II Induced Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy via CaN-NFAT Signal Pathway. Nutrients. 2022; 14(7). PMC: 9003418. DOI: 10.3390/nu14071391. View

4.
Lu R, Sugimoto T, Tsuboi T, Sekikawa T, Tanaka M, Lyu X . Sichuan dark tea improves lipid metabolism and prevents aortic lipid deposition in diet-induced atherosclerosis model rats. Front Nutr. 2022; 9:1014883. PMC: 9729532. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1014883. View

5.
Serra D, Mika F, Richter A, Hengge R . The green tea polyphenol EGCG inhibits E. coli biofilm formation by impairing amyloid curli fibre assembly and downregulating the biofilm regulator CsgD via the σ(E) -dependent sRNA RybB. Mol Microbiol. 2016; 101(1):136-51. DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13379. View