Green Tea May Exert Protective Effect for Cognitive Health

Previous research has suggested that the antioxidant compounds (polyphenols) present in green tea possess neuroprotective properties, due to their capacity to counter oxidative stress induced by free radicals.  As well, other studies have found green tea polyphenols effective in enhancing cognition in laboratory animal models of cognitive impairment. Ed Okello, from Newcastle University (United Kingdom), and colleagues conducted lab experiments in which the team exposed tumor cells to varying concentrations of different toxins, as well as digested green tea compounds. They found that digested green tea compounds protected the cells and prevented the toxins from destroying them. Explaining that:  ”At high concentrations, [digested green tea compounds] exhibited direct anti-proliferative effects, in line with the reputed anti-cancer properties of green tea polyphenols,” the researchers submit that: “These results demonstrate that potentially bioavailable green tea metabolites are able to ameliorate … cytotoxicity.”