Green tea extract is the active ingredient extracted from green tea leaves, mainly including tea polyphenols (catechins), caffeine, aromatic oils, water, minerals, pigments, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins and so on. Among them, tea polyphenols are the main components of green tea extracts, which have a variety of important biological activities and health benefits. The following is a detailed introduction to green tea extract and its main component, tea polyphenols:
1.Components of green tea extract
Tea polyphenol: It is the main component of green tea extract, accounting for about 30% of the dry matter. Tea polyphenols are mainly composed of catechins, accounting for about 60% to 80% of its total. Catechin compounds mainly include catechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and other four substances.
Caffeine: is another important ingredient in green tea, which has the effect of refreshing the mind.
Other components: including aromatic oils, water, minerals, pigments, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, etc., which together constitute the complex chemical composition of green tea extract.
2.The efficacy and role of tea polyphenols
(1)Antioxidant effect:
Tea polyphenols have a strong antioxidant capacity, can remove free radicals in the body, to protect cells from oxidative damage.
Antioxidant effect helps to slow down aging, prevent chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
(2)Hypolipidemic effect:
Tea polyphenols can significantly reduce the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol content of hyperlipidemia.
It also has the effect of restoring and protecting the endothelial function of blood vessels, which helps to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
(3)Bactericidal and detoxification effects:
Tea polyphenols can kill a variety of pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum and Staphylococcus aureus.
It has antibacterial effect on various pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea, respiratory tract and skin infections.
(4)Alcohol detoxification and liver protection:
Tea polyphenols act as free radical scavengers and have the effect of inhibiting alcoholic liver damage.
(5)Improvement of body immunity:
Tea polyphenols stimulate changes in antibody activity by increasing the total amount of immunoglobulins in the body and maintaining them at a high level, thus improving one’s overall immunity.
(6)Other effects:
Tea polyphenols also have a variety of effects such as anti-radiation, anti-cancer, anti-mutagenesis, deodorization, and protection of food coloring.
In the food industry, tea polyphenol as a natural antioxidant has been widely used in the preservation and processing of fats and oils, meat products, fried foods, baked goods, aquatic products, beverages and many other foods.
3.Application of green tea extract
Food industry: Green tea extract is widely used in the food industry, including grease, meat products, fried food, baked food, aquatic products, beverages and other food preservation and processing.
Healthcare products: Due to the multiple health benefits of green tea extract, it is also widely used in the field of healthcare products, such as lipid reduction and weight loss, antioxidant, and immunity enhancement in healthcare products.
Cosmetics: green tea extract can also be used as an additive in cosmetics, with antibacterial, enzyme inhibition, prevention and treatment of skin diseases and skin allergies.
In summary, green tea extract is a natural substance with a variety of biological activities and health effects, and has a wide range of application prospects in the fields of food, health products and cosmetics.