Japanese Green Tea (Camellia Oleifera) has long been revered in many cultures as a remedy for various dysfunctions. Discovered in China almost 5,000 years ago, its utilization for refreshment and as a beneficial health nutrient quickly spread around the world. So entrenched was tea in the culture of the American forefathers that when the English taxed it, the American revolutionaries considered it a tax on life itself, resulting in the infamous “Boston Tea Party.”
Scientists have recently extensively analyzed Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract to determine the most beneficial ingredients. The two major pharmacologically active groups of chemicals in Japanese Green Tea are the xanthines and the polyphenols (also known as catechins).
Polyphenols from Camellia Oleifera processed by the method considered “Japanese Green Tea” yield the most helpful extract since, in manufacturing black tea, most of the polyphenols are oxidized to form dark-colored ingredients. They are then unavailable to exhibit their antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols abundant in Japanese Green Tea are Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCg), Epigallocatechin (EGC), Epicatechin Gallate (ECg), and Epicatechin (EC). Gallocatechins are known to prevent the hydrolysis of other biological compounds, such as Diosgenin, which is found in Mexican Yams. Therefore, its inclusion in a formula will stabilize other extracts.EGCg is a powerful antioxidant and is more than 20 times stronger than Vitamin E. It plays a vital role in protecting the cell from free radical damage initiated by environmental factors such as exposure to UV light. In tea, polyphenols form loose bonds with the xanthines (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline), potentiating their anti-inflammatory and anti-irritancy effects. This may be one reason why using these ingredients in their natural state appears to be more effective than using synthetic materials.
Xanthines
The major xanthines in Japanese Green Tea are Caffeine, Theobromine, and Theophylline. These compounds have many beneficial, healthful properties, including suppressing inflammation and irritation and reducing cellulite.
One effective use of its anti-irritancy properties is in combination with alpha hydroxy acids, “fruit acids,” such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, or beta hydroxy acid salicylic acid. These acids are used up to 10% in skin renewal preparations and can be somewhat irritating.
The addition of Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract at 1-3% can reduce the irritation caused by the exfoliating acids without any loss in efficacy of the skin treatment product. Another use of its anti-inflammatory properties is in combination with an established sunscreen to increase the SPF of a sunscreen product.
The vasodilator effect of the xanthines, along with the free radical scavenging potential of the polyphenols, provides a perfect combination of active materials to potentiate the effectiveness of sunscreen. The xanthines, particularly theophylline, have recently been associated with reducing the appearance of cellulite. Using Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract is a safe, gentle way to provide theophylline to the skin.Related ingredients
