|
|
CHEMICAL IN GREEN TEA MAY STAVE OFF ALZHEIMER'S Researchers at the University of South Florida have discovered that green tea may offer another potential health benefit protecting the brain against the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. A component in green tea prevented Alzheimer's-like damage in the brains of mice genetically programmed to develop the neurodegenerative disease process. The component, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major antioxidant in green tea.. After treating Alzheimer's mice for several months with daily injections of pure EGCG, the researchers observed a dramatic decrease as much as 54% of beta-amyloid Alzheimer's brain plaques. The findings suggest that a concentrated component of green tea can decrease brain beta-amyloid plaque formation, said senior study author Jun Tan, PhD, MD. If beta-amyloid pathology in this Alzheimer's mouse model is representative of Alzheimer's disease pathology in humans, EGCG dietary supplementation may be effective in preventing and treating the disease. Journal of Neuroscience September 21, 2005;25:8807-14. |
|
