A new study from the University of Michigan Health System suggests that a compound in green tea may provide therapeutic benefits to people with rheumatoid arthritis. Credit: Stockphoto Science Daily
The compound from green tea was found to suppress the inflammatory products in the connective tissue of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
The study, presented April 29 at the Experimental Biology 2007 in Washington, D.C., looks at a potent anti-inflammatory compound derived from green tea. Researchers found that the compound – called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) – inhibited the production of several molecules in the immune system that contribute to inflammation and joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
To conduct the research, the scientists isolated cells called synovial fibroblasts from the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These fibroblasts – cells that form a lining of the tissue surrounding the capsule of the joints – then were cultured in a growth medium and incubated with the green tea compound.
The fibroblasts were then stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1b, a protein of the immune system known to play an important role in causing joint destruction in people with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers looked at whether the green tea compound has the capability to block the activity of two potent molecules, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which also are actively involved in causing boneerosion in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
When untreated cells were stimulated with IL-1b, a sequence of molecular events occurred that resulted in production of the bone-destructive molecules. But the scientists found that pre-incubation with EGCG was capable of inhibiting the production of these molecules. EGCG also inhibited the production of prostaglandin E2, a hormone-like substance that causes inflammation in the joints.
The cell signaling pathways that regulate levels of these immune system molecules under both normal and rheumatoid arthritis situations are well studied, and the researchers were able to trace the effects of the green tea compound infusion to see that it worked by inhibiting these pathways.
Green Tea Compound, May Be A Therapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis And The Impact Of Genetic Factors On Mortality
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22 comments:
hi Q,
Plenty of changes in both the blogs.
Been reading everything but have not been able to leave any useful comments :)
I hope you are having a good time.
Hi Sojourner, getting busy.
May in the uk starting to feel more like summer than spring.
Less time for posting, going to try to find one 'weekly' topic or theme for each blog.
Climate Changes...
lifestyle changes...
hope to see you once in a while(week) Q.
nice to have met you over (Green) Tea :)
I wish I had come across this site before, I shall link with it too. I love fruit and herbal teas and enjoy green too. I hear it is good to help lose weight. Do many tea shops serve it though?
amazing!! so much bounty in nature to heal us.
green tea esp is so reviving.. :)
where is goldenship?
Hi Elle, England likes Milky tea.
You should be able to have tea (even green tea) served in a pot, add milk and sugar to taste.
Alas, if only it were certain that say- five cups of green tea would serve to prevent any symptoms, I'd buy my mother a plantation or two.
Hi Sojourner,
the main constant in the universe is change, we are in a transition state (or phase) from this moment to the next, even our bodies change from day to day, and how we feel often depends wholly on our mental state.
Hi Mystic
goldenship is still there or rather
here goldenship9
One of the effects of green tea (as well as soy beans) is to inhibit iron absorption in the body. Lower iron levels are one of the reasons Japan boasts not only the longest life span, but also the longest health-span (years without infirmities or need for drug therapies). Drink that green tea.
Hi Panda, thanks!
I'm wondering if my mother would have drank green tea (instead of other teas) for the last fifty years, her condition would be milder. But yeah previous Japanese traditional culture and diet did seem to offer the 'secrets' of longevity or the 'fount' of eternal youth - well perhaps not quite eternal - but the old certainly were less laden and more supple than modern societies in the US and EU.
The Italians and mediterraneans too did seem to enjoy 'graceful' old age -though perhaps all the other chemicals we take today whether in our diet or other, are eroding all the previous wisdom
I must admit, I like to drink my green tea without sugar or milk - more like flavoured hot water. But I drink a fair amount of it too (huge pint cups) whilst I'm working - I rush up and down stairs all day, so I get so thirsty, and milky tea would be too 'thick'!
It's amazing how the scientists are able to do their investigations these days, isn't it - so much more direct (straight into the cells, instead of studying people for fifty years before reaching their conclusions, still not sure what other factors have been involved...)
Hi annelisa, one must always take medical claims and miracle cures, even in conventional - with a pinch of salt.
After all it appears one can now prevent osteoporosis with an annual injection.
I can see old people queueing up for their jab alongside their pneumonia jab and a half dozen other 'annual' jabs. I guess we'll be able to measure and compare results (or statistics) over the next 50 years.
However I can't see much success with treatments for advanced rheumatoid arthritis, nor are hip replacements half the success story the medical profession would like us to think.
Hmm, green tea. Nice and with health benefits. Cool.
Hi Aggie,
so will that be Green Tea for 2. lol!
A fantastic site Quasar 9 - I could get addicted to this.
Hi electro kevin, Thanks!
You are welcome.
I like surfing the blogosphere and joining in debates with varying degrees of humour, but most of all I like delving into the perceived realities not just of opinions but also scientific thought.
How we see and interpret the world is clearly affected in part by our direct environment, peer groups, reading, and 'reflective' thoughts.
I`ve heard lately that black tea is very good for you too. Hopefully that`s correct because I find that the green tastes a bit like hay. Not that i`ve done any hay eating lately :)
Thanks for visiting my blog!
tea
xo
Hi Margarita, all Teas
and many infusions are supposed to have medicinal properties.
Though when tea first arrived in Britain, most of the improvements in health seem to be derived from the sugar in the tea - alas with the downside of too much sugar.
Green Tea seems to be specifically targeted at rheumatoid arthritis, though I'm still not convinced simply drinking green tea even for fifty years could or would prevent it - it would be nice if we could find simple changes in diet rather than complex chemicals, to remedy most of our ills.
Thanks for stopping by.
Great garden you have there!
That's interesting! I like green tea! :)
Well that is certainly a cheap remedy, should please the NHS.
I couldn't add milk to green, I always drink it neat.
Yes to neat green tea for two.
I guess it might not be in our lifetime a 'cure' or preventative is found, but for all the people suffering, I hope it is.
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