There is growing research evidence that Green Tea has many health benefits. Green tea is a rich source of the Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is a immunomodulatory polyphenol that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of autoimmune diseases.
Recently, researchers at Washington State University in Spokane have published a research paper showing that EGCG has high potential the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as it blocks the effects of the disease without inhibiting other cellular functions.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints. This chronic inflammatory disease characterized by T-cell mediated inflammation which contributes to the destruction of cartilage and bone in the joints.
The researchers investigated the use of EGCG for targeting Transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1). TAK 1 is an important signalling protein — through which proinflammatory cytokines transmit their signals causing inflammation and tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. TAK 1 is a key MAPKKK family protein in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Toll-like receptor signalling. It is also a key regulator in inflammatory and immune signaling pathways.
The paper published in the February edition of Arthritis and Rheumatology showed that EGCG significantly reduces ankle swelling in the rat animal model. Furthermore, previous research studies have shown that that green tea extract or EGCG administration improved symptoms of arthritis i.e. markedly reduced inflammation-related cytokine production including IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α and increased IL-10 production.
Therefore, taken together these are potentially important findings in development of novel Integrative Medicine resources for the treatment of RA through:
- Advocating green tea as food and nutrition advice for RA and OA sufferers.
- Design of novel pharmaceuticals through targeting TAK1.
- Developing novel ‘EGCG like’ molecules as pharmaceutical interventions.
- Developing best quality vitamin and supplements for Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis.
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