Black Tea: Leveraging Human Health from Indian Perspective

Abstract

Tea, the most preferred drink in the world after water, has been under intense research in recent years due to its fascinating chemical composition. Major polyphenolic compounds— theaflavins (TF), residual catechins, thearubigins as well as theanine and caffeine—present in black tea (BT) contribute to color, distinctive flavor and play significant roles both for quality of tea and act as a safeguard against many ailments. Antioxidants present in BT act against heart diseases and also have antitumor efficacy, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antimicrobial and antimutagenic activities.

Extensive studies have already been performed in India on various human ailments. Few of the popular findings have shown the protective role of BT against Type-2 Diabetes mellitus and insulin activity. BT was also found to protect against DNA and protein damage, lowers stress level, and effectively acts against metabolic disorders, as anti-aging agent, antineurodegenerative action and act against Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the active components are recommended as drugs. Thea—a medicine for treating heart trouble, neurological dysfunction etc—has been quite popular in homeopathic treatment. In India, large number of health projects where beneficial effects of BT have already been well established. Further research is essential to explore targeted therapy for the development of products aiming at specific diseases with proper clinical trial and bioavailability studies.

Keywords: black tea (BT), polyphenols, antioxidants, health benefits

Cite this Article

Saha G, Bakshi U, Choudhury SS. Black Tea: Leveraging Human Health from Indian Perspective. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2018; 8(2): 53–60p