Camelia sinensis, also known as the tea plant, cultivates black, green, oolong, and white tea. The leaf extract is made from the leaves’ oil.
Because tea, especially green tea, is good for you in many ways, camellia sinensis, or tea leaf extract, has become more famous.
You can make the extract at home or buy it as a supplement. It contains the plant’s healthy ingredients in a concentrated form.
This piece goes into more detail about Camellia sinensis leaf extract, how it can help your health, and some of the most common ways people use it.
Main compounds
Camellia sinensis leaf extract has a lot of the same bioactive chemicals that give tea its smell, taste, astringency, and health benefits.
In order, here are some of the main chemicals in the extract.
Caffeine
The most studied stimulant in coffee and tea is caffeine. About 6% of the caffeine in a normal cup of green tea comes from the leaves. It’s well known that it can have both good and bad effects on health.
Studies have shown that drinking caffeine on a daily basis may help people avoid developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
As a stimulant, caffeine may also make you more aware, less tired, better at exercising, and better at thinking.
Still, drinking too much caffeine can have dangerous health effects, such as irregular heart rate changes.
Catechins
One of the most important active substances in the Camellia sinensis plant is catechins. Studies have shown that they can help fight cancer.
These are flavonoids, which are a type of polyphenol. Polyphenols are a big group of compounds that are very good at fighting free radicals.
Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, which are dangerous molecules. They help keep you from contracting diseases that can occur when your body has too many free radicals, which is known as reactive stress.
There are four kinds of catechins in the extract: epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epicatechin (EC). The most powerful and common of these is EGCG.
L-theanine
L-theanine, an amino acid that is not a protein, comes from the tea plant. It makes up about half of the amino acids in green tea, making it the most common one. L-theanine is a part of what gives tea its unique taste and smell.
It’s also the chemical that makes tea calm, which may help people learn and concentrate better.L-theanine also contributes to improved immune function by reducing inflammation and free radicals.
Some other chemicals
Along with the three main chemicals listed above, tea leaf extract also has B vitamins, lipids like linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, and trace minerals like selenium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and iron.
Benefits of Camellia Sinensis plant
Skin health
For many years, the cosmetic industry has used Camellia sinensis leaf extract because of its beneficial effects on the epidermis’ health and appearance.
EGCG may defend the skin from ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage, which is responsible for sunburn, premature skin aging, and nonmelanoma skin cancer, on account of its antioxidant properties.
Additionally, scientific studies have demonstrated that topical and oral administration of the extract resulted in a reduction in scaling while simultaneously enhancing skin elasticity, hydration, density, and blood flow.
Furthermore, the extract’s caffeine content frequently leads to its use as an anti-cellulite agent.
It may also reduce the time required for wound recovery and excess sebum production, which is a major indicator of an oily face.
Hearth health
Camellia sinensis leaf extract tea may be good for heart health.
Their catechin and L-theanine content may aid in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as:
- Trollicesterol and cholesterol levels are present in the bloodstream. Studies indicate that by inhibiting the absorption of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, the extract may help reduce these substances’ levels.
- Plaque of an arterial nature. The extract’s catechins inhibit the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, thereby preventing the formation of arterial plaque and subsequent blockage.
- The arterial pressure. By increasing blood vessel function and promoting blood vessel relaxation, the extract may reduce blood pressure.
Additionally, the extract may reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. Its constituents have the potential to mitigate myocardial enlargement, ameliorate hypertension, and reinstate the functionality of antioxidant enzymes.
Boost your immune system
L-theanine and EGCG are important compounds in terms of immune system enhancement.
Research findings suggest that L-theanine has the capacity to augment T-cell generation. T cells are a disease-fighting subset of white blood cells.
It may therefore have a significant impact on the prevention of infections, allergic diseases, and hypersensitivity reactions.
EGCG may also restore the immunological equilibrium of the body in multiple autoimmune diseases through the inhibition of the production of numerous inflammatory markers, according to research.
It may also enhance the body’s resistance to infection and function as an antiviral agent by impeding the initial phases of infection and preventing the life cycle of a virus within cells that have been infected.
Anticancer effects
The extract’s catechin content, specifically EGCG, is primarily responsible for its anticancer properties.
Animal and test tube studies have demonstrated the cancer-protective effects of EGCG through its ability to induce apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, in malignant cells.
Angiogenesis inhibition is another mechanism by which it can impede tumor progression and spread. New blood vessels form, providing nourishment to malignant cells.
EGCG also stimulates the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which are responsible for neutralizing free radicals. An excess of free radicals can cause DNA damage, which can contribute to the development of cancer.
Research has implicated EGCG in the treatment of various types of cancer.
- Prostate malignancy: When administered EGCG, individuals with low-grade prostate cancer may experience an enhanced quality of life and a decreased risk of recurrence.
- Breast malignancy: In individuals with stages one and two of breast cancer, EGCG may also decrease mortality, recurrence rate, and cancer-free period, in addition to reducing cancer risk.
- Additional forms of malignancy exist: EGCG has the potential to reduce the incidence of colorectal, liver, lung, and gastric cancer.
Stress and anxiety
L-theanine is an important contributor to the extract’s anti-stress effect.
According to scientific research, L-theanine promotes relaxation and decreases anxiety by enhancing dopamine and serotonin levels. Produced by brain cells, these two signaling molecules, among other things, regulate motivation and pleasure.
Additionally, it appears that L-theanine stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, which scientists use to measure relaxation. Scientists link them to a state of mental alertness and tranquility.
Curiously, one study found that combining L-theanine with caffeine, an element also present in the extract, may enhance its calming effects.
Weight loss
Globally, obesity is a significant health concern.
Research has indicated that the caffeine and EGCG found in Camellia sinensis leaf extract may facilitate weight loss.
EGCG may aid in weight loss by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for carbohydrate and fat absorption and digestion in the intestines. This could potentially reduce energy consumption.
Furthermore, it has the potential to impact the composition of the intestinal microbiota and promote weight loss by modulating fat metabolism and enhancing fat breakdown.
In contrast, caffeine has the potential to stimulate lipid oxidation, energy expenditure, and metabolism, all of which contribute to weight loss.
According to some studies, combining EGCG and caffeine, as they are in this extract, may enhance this weight loss effect.
However, other research has not linked green tea or green tea extract to statistically significant weight loss.
Therefore, more research is necessary to determine how consuming Camellia sinensis leaf extract affects weight loss.
Other health benefits
Leaf extracts of Camellia sinensis may offer the following additional health benefits:
- Effects anti-inflammatory: Compounds in the extract may inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory substances linked to inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, according to animal studies.
- Potential benefits for bone health: Animal and human research suggests that catechins may inhibit bone loss and modulate bone metabolism.
- A potential hepatic health benefit: High concentrations of the extract’s catechin and L-theanine may prevent liver damage by reducing the activity of liver enzymes that cause inflammation and disease.
Potential drawbacks
Although most people consider Camellia sinensis leaf extract to be safe and well-tolerated, there have been reports of negative effects. Because of its caffeine content, it may cause jitteriness and migraines.
Additionally, research has established a correlation between increased caffeine intake during pregnancy and an increased likelihood of experiencing pregnancy loss and low birth weight.
Other minor adverse effects associated with the use of Camellia sinensis leaf extract include digestive symptoms like nausea and diarrhea, as well as skin reactions like rash or allergy.
However, research has also linked the extract to a more significant adverse effect: liver toxicity.
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) concluded in a comprehensive evaluation that green tea extracts may, albeit infrequently, induce hepatic toxicity.
Toxic effects may result from the interaction of elevated EGCG concentrations with medications or from a metabolic disorder affecting a specific individual.
There have been reports of liver toxicity associated with daily doses of the extract ranging from 700 to 2,100 mg, although it is possible for liver injury to transpire at lower doses of 140 to 1,000 mg.
The quantities provided are approximately equivalent to one dose of commercially accessible Camellia sinensis leaf extract, although there may be variations in product concentrations and recommended dosages. Consequently, hepatic toxicity may occur even at “normal” dosages of the extract.
Notably, the majority of adverse effects were associated with eating on an empty stomach. Consequently, it is advisable to consume the extract in conjunction with sustenance.
Methods for preparing and consuming it
The extract has been shown through scientific research to aid in the prevention and treatment of numerous ailments.
However, its primary uses remain in the realm of cosmetic applications and skin health, rather than weight loss.
Although consuming a cup of tea may provide the majority of the benefits, the extract contains significantly higher concentrations of the advantageous compounds.
As a dietary supplement, Camellia sinensis leaf extract is available online in powder, capsule, and liquid forms.
You may also attempt to prepare your own extract at home.
The bottom line
Leaf extract of Camellia sinensis is the oil extracted from the leaves of tea plants.
Research has established a correlation between its abundance of bioactive compounds, including catechins, L-theanine, and caffeine, and a variety of advantageous outcomes.
Additionally, it may facilitate weight loss, reduce tension and anxiety, and strengthen the immune system.
In uncommon instances, however, it may cause undesirable side effects including jitteriness, nausea, skin rashes, and liver toxicity.
Before attempting it, you should consider consulting a healthcare professional. It is possible to create your own Camellia sinensis leaf extract or purchase it online.
