喝绿茶可以防治泌尿系统疾病

在美国加州阿那罕姆市 (Anaheim)所举行的美国泌尿医学会 (American Urological Association)年会上，由匹兹堡大学 (University of Pittsburgh)医学院科学家所发表的一份最新的研究发现，绿茶饮品中所含有的活性成份，可以有效的治疗泌尿系统疾病,如膀胱炎。

以往许多研究证实，绿茶中含有丰富的抗氧化剂，如catechins的分子，就已经确定可以防止正常与癌变的细胞，受到过氧化氢 (hydrogen peroxide)之类的过氧化物所伤害，其抗氧化作用，可以保护正常细胞，防止癌变。而这次实验中，研究人员利用 catechins分子中主要的两个成份 EGCG(epigallocatechin gallate) 和ECG (epicatechin gallate) ，在细胞培养的环境中发现，EGCG和 ECG保护细胞免除过氧化氢侵袭的时间，居然高达 23个小时以上，而且研究人员所使用的浓度，还是日常饮用绿茶可以吸收的浓度。这项研究令人惊奇，表明，正常喝茶的浓度就具有强大的抗氧化保护作用。

(资料来源 : biocompare)

英文原文:

Green Tea May Protect The Bladder From Becoming Inflamed
5/20/2007

Source: University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

Herbal agents could be used to treat inflammatory bladder diseases, according to a preliminary study that looked at the ability of green tea to protect bladder cells from inflammation. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study, being presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, Calif., found that components of green tea protected bladder cells from damage in culture. The study is Abstract 299 in the AUA proceedings.

Green tea, reported to have many health benefits, is rich in powerful antioxidants that make it a possible remedy for many medical conditions. It is comprised of catechins – plant metabolites that provide it with many anti-oxidative properties.

"We discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide," said Michael B. Chancellor, M.D., professor of urology and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Although further studies are needed, these results indicate herbal supplements from green tea could be a treatment option for various bladder conditions that are caused by injury or inflammation."

In the study, normal and cancerous bladder cells were exposed to two major catechin components of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), for 23 hours. Both significantly protected cell lines from exposure to hydrogen peroxide, which damages or kills cells. The concentrations of EGCG and ECG used in the study were at levels that may be achieved through dietary intake.