| Question: |
| What is Green Tea Extract? |
| Answer: |
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All teas (green, black, and oolong) ultimately come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference between teas is in how the leaves are prepared. Green tea, unlike
black and oolong tea, is not fermented, so the active constituents remain intact.
Green tea extract is rich in a class of bioflavonoid compounds called catechins,
which are considered to be very powerful antioxidants. Green tea catechins with
the highest antioxidant activity are epigallocatechin-3-gallate (the most potent), epicatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin and epicatechin.
Green tea extract has potent antimutagenic potential against a variety of important
mutagens (mutation-causing agents). Other studies suggest that green tea extract
may protect against a variety of cancers.
In some Chinese populations, consumption of green tea amounts to several cups
per day. No evidence of toxicity has been observed.
For additional information (including a list of references), please refer to
the green tea extract technical bulletin at http://www.usana.com/dotCom/company/science/components.
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