According to the latest research conducted by American and German scientists, tea extracts are helpful in reducing skin damage caused by cancer radiation therapy.
The researchers analyzed the effects of the extracts of green and black tea. They discovered that they decreased the duration of radiation-induced skin damage by five to ten days. The tea extracts operate at the cellular level in order to inhibit inflammatory pathways and diminish inflammation, claimed the team from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Freiburg.
The investigators not only tested the extracts on patients, but also examined the effects of green and black tea extracts on human and mouse white blood cells in laboratory cell cultures.
They discovered that the extracts decreased the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and PGE2, in human white blood cells. It appeared that green tea extract demonstrates higher anti-inflammatory properties than black tea extract.
Both green and black tea extracts slow down one of the main inflammatory pathways in mouse white blood cells.
Polyphenols may constitute the key
According to the scientists, the high amount of polyphenols in tea is likely in charge of its anti-inflammatory activity. However, the researchers said that other pathways are likely involved in its clinical effectiveness.
