Green Tea Extract
Overview:
Green tea extract is rich in polyphenols with neuroprotective and nootropic effects. Green tea extract can enhance memory and learning abilities and delay aging.
Scientific Name:
EGCG – Epigallocatechin-3-gallate from Camellia Sinensis
Mechanisms:
- Polyphenols in green tea include catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids, all with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties – anti-aging effect[1]
- Synergistic with quercetin – increased bioavailability of catechins[2]
- Synergistic with L-Theanine in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and enhancing cognitive effects[3]
- The catechin EGCG is the most abundant and potent polyphenol in green tea[4]
- EGCG can improve cognitive function by increasing the production of neural progenitor cells[5]
- Increases blood flow[6]
- May reduce anxiety and fatigue[7,8]
More Info:
- Intro: https://www.nootropedia.com/green-tea-extract/
- Studies: https://examine.com/supplements/Green+Tea+Catechins/ | https://examine.com/supplements/Theaflavins/ | https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120905083852.htm
- Articles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigallocatechin_gallate | http://bebrainfit.com/egcg-green-tea-brain/
References
[1] Khan N & Mukhtar H (2013). Tea and health: studies in humans. Curr Pharm Des, 19(34):6141-7. doi: 10.2174/1381612811319340008
[2] Wang P, et al (2012). Quercetin increased bioavailability and decreased methylation of green tea polyphenols in vitro and in vivo. Food Funct, 3(6):635-42. doi: 10.1039/c2fo10254d
[3] Kim TI, et al (2008). Improvement of Memory Impairment by the Combination of Green Tea Extract and L-Theanine through Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Mice (link)
[4] Bhagwat S, et al (2011). USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods, Release 3. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. (link)
[5] Wang Y, et al (2012). Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation and sonic hedgehog pathway activation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Mol Nutr Food Res, 56(8):1292-303. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201200035
[6] Ras RT, et al (2011). Tea consumption enhances endothelial-dependent vasodilation; a meta-analysis. PLoS One, 6(3):e16974. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016974
[7] Vignes M, et al (2006). Anxiolytic properties of green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Brain Res, 1110(1):102-15. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.06.062
[8] Sachdeva AK, et al (2010). Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate in murine water-immersion stress model of chronic fatigue syndrome. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 106(6):490-6. doi 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2009.00525.x