Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis Camel milk Cameo g-Camera Cameras... 

The leaves of Camellia sinensis are similar to most plants in general morphology and contain all the standard enzymes and stmctures associated with plant cell growth and photosynthesis (10—12). Unique to tea plants are large quantities of flavonoids and methylxanthines, compounds which impart the unique flavor and functional properties of tea. The general composition of fresh tea leaves is presented ia Table 1. 

NOTE Tea is brown because of the tannin present in the shoots of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis). 

Geen tea Camellia sinensis Reduces cancer, lowers lipid levels, helps prevent dental caries, antimicrobial and anti oxidative effects Contains caffeine (may cause mild stimulant effects such as anxiety, nervousness, heart irregularities, restlessness, insomnia, and digestive irritation) Contains caffeine and should be avoided during pregnancy, by individuals with hypertension, anxiety, eating disorders, insomnia, diabetes, and ulcers. 

ADCOCKS c, COLLIN P and BUTTLE D J (2002) Catechins from green tea Camellia sinensis) inhibit bovine and human cartilage proteoglycan and type 11 collagen degradation in vitro , JNutr, 132 (3), 341-6. 

HAMILTON-MILLER J M T aud SHAH s (1999) Disorganization of cell division of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a component of tea Camellia sinensis) a study by electron microscopy , FEMS Microbiology Letters, 176, 463-9. 

YAM T s, HAMILTON-MILLER J M T and SHAH s (1998) The effect of a component of tea Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance, PBP2 synthesis, and (J-lactamase production in Staphylococcus aureus, J Antimicrobial Chemtherapy, 42, 211-16. 

XiE M, Von Bohlen A, Klockenkamper R, Jian X, Gunther K (1998) Multielement analysis of Chinese tea (Camellia sinensis) by total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 207A 3i-38. 

Seasonal variations in the metabolic fate of adenine nucleotides prelabelled with [8—1-4C] adenine were examined in leaf disks prepared at 1-month intervals, over the course of 1 year, from the shoots of tea plants (Camellia sinensis L. cv. Yabukita) which were growing under natural field conditions by Fujimori et al.33 Incorporation of radioactivity into nucleic acids and catabolites of purine nucleotides was found throughout the experimental period, but incorporation into theobromine and caffeine was found only in the young leaves harvested from April to June. Methy-lation of xanthosine, 7-methylxanthine, and theobromine was catalyzed by gel-filtered leaf extracts from young shoots (April to June), but the reactions could not be detected in extracts from leaves in which no synthesis of caffeine was observed in vivo. By contrast, the activity of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate synthetase was still found in leaves harvested in July and August. 

Suzuki, T. and Takahashi, E., Caffeine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis, Phytochemistry, 15,1235,1976b. 

Tea , in this work, refers only to the plant Camellia sinensis, its leaves, and the extracts and infusions thereof. Leaf, bark, stem, root, or flower extracts of scores of other plants are also sold as teas , creating confusion. An important reason for the consumption of these other teas , a.k.a. herbal teas or tisanes , is their lack of methylxanthines, unlike beverages prepared from Camellia sinensis which are naturally rich in these substances, especially caffeine. 

Tea is found in every shape and size, grown and processed everywhere across a wide belt throughout China. In the U.S., we are used to only a few types of tea however, the varieties of Camellia sinensis found in China are almost endless. Each of them is given a name that often reflects the romantic and almost metaphysical nature of tea in Chinese culture. Probably nowhere else in the world is tea worshipped as a mystical and ceremonial beverage as in Asian countries, and especially in China, where C. sinensis finds its roots. 

A pinch of elder flowers can also be added to a steeping pot of black tea Camellia sinensis) for a delightful flavor. 

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most frequently consumed beverages in the world and, consequently, an important agricultural product [168], It has been proved many times that tea may reduce cholesterol level, hypertension, and shows antioxidant and anti-microbial effects [169], Because of its importance, a considerable number of analytical methods have been developed for the separation and quantitative determination of the constituents of tea [170,171]. Thus, the application of high-speed counter-current chromatography [172,173], and HPLC-APCI-MS [174] have been reported. 

L. Yao, Y. Jiang, N. Datta, R. Singanusong, X. Liu, J.Duan, K. Raymont, A. Lisle and Y. Xu, HPLC analyses of flavanols and phenolic acids in the fresh shoots of tea (Camellia sinensis) grown in Australia. Food Chem. 84 (2004) 253-263. 

Tea (Camellia sinensis). Reprinted from Culbreth DMR. (1927). Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy, 7th ed. Philadelphia Lea Febiger. 

OkeUo El, Savelev SU, Perry EK (2004) In vitro anti-beta-secretase and dual anticholinesterase activities of Camellia sinensis L. relevant to treatment of dementia. Phytother Res 18 624-627... 

Punyasiri PA, Abeysinghe IS, Kumar V, Treutter D, Duy D, Gosch C, Martens S, Eorkmann G, Fischer TC (2004) Flavonoid biosynthesis in the tea plant Camellia sinensis properties of enzymes of the prominent epicatechin and catechin pathways. Arch Biochem Biophys 431(l) 22-30... 

A plant-derived compound used in the treatment of asthma and COPD is the methylxanthine-type alkaloid, theophylline (50), found naturally in tea Camellia sinensis Kuntze). This compound demonstrated higher activity when complexed with bases, as in its semisynthetic analogue amino-phylline (51). 5... 

Seeds of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) were surface-sterilized in a saturated solution of calcium hypochlorite for 30 min, and soaked for 30 min in running water. The whole seeds, or else seed that had been decorticated, i.e. removed from the hard testae, were sown in moist sea sand and allowed to germinate and grow in dark at 28 °C. 

Theaceae Camellia sinensis Caffeine Theophylline Theobromine... 

Purine alkaloids Caffeine synthase Camellia sinensis, Coffea arabica... 

Caffeine Xanthine Increases mental alertness Camellia sinensis... 

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