According to the research carried out by American and British scientists, green tea may be helpful in decreasing the risk of HIV infection. It may also decelerate the spread of the virus in patients who have already been infected.
The investigators discovered that a component of green tea known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) prevents HIV - the virus leading to Aids - from binding to immune system cells. BBC News informed that EGCG causes this by connecting to immune system cells first, leaving no opportunity for HIV to attach to the cells.
The research aimed at examining the ability of EGCG to block HIV from binding to immune cells in test tubes. The findings appear in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
"Our study demonstrates that drinking green tea could be able to decrease the risk of becoming infected with HIV, and could also hold back the spread of HIV," explained Professor Mike Williamson of the University of Sheffield in the UK.
"It is not a medication, and nor is it a secure way to avoid infection, nevertheless, we recommend that it ought to be used in tandem with conventional drugs in order to improve quality of life for people infected," he explained.
Williamson added that the study is underway in order to uncover the levels of protection offered by various amounts of green tea, BBC News informed. According to specialists not involved in the research, this is only introductory research.
