- Catechins (also known as tea polyphenols) are secondary plant compounds that belong to the flavonoids and act as antioxidants (read more under “Antioxidants“).
- Since 1988, there have been more than a thousand studies exploring what catechins are and documenting the cancer-preventive ability of tea’s polyphenols.
- Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites, specifically flavonoids called flavan-3-ols. Although present in numerous plant species...
- An RD shares the many health benefits of catechins, a potent anti-inflammatory plant compound, and shares why tea is a super source of them.
- What are catechins and what do they do? ... There are sub-types of catechins called EC and EGCG - these are the ones found predominantly in tea.
- In addition to having a direct antioxidant action, catechins enhance other antioxidant systems, such as those in which vitamin E is involved.
- During the oxidation the catechins form long chains (theaflavins and thearubigins), so that explains the reduced amount of catechins in black tea.
- Catechins and epicatechins are a well study group of bioactive plant compounds, called polyphenols. Polyphenols are organic compounds primarily found in plants.
- In experimental models, catechins show a wide range of protective effects, including cardioprotective, chemoprotective, and anitmicrobial properties.
- Catechins are present in several foods, green tea being one of the best sources: 30% of the weight of the leaf, when dry, is made up of catechins.