A systematic review of tea pigments: Prevention of major diseases, protection of organs, and potential mechanisms and applications

Xuan Zhao; Fei Yan; Xin-Sheng Li; Dong Qu; Yue-Ling Xu

doi:10.1002/fsn3.3666

A systematic review of tea pigments: Prevention of major diseases, protection of organs, and potential mechanisms and applications

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Oct 6;11(11):6830-6844. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3666. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Xuan Zhao¹, Fei Yan^{1

2

3

4}, Xin-Sheng Li^{1

2

3

4}, Dong Qu^{2

3

4}, Yue-Ling Xu^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Qinba Black Tea Research Institute, Shaanxi University of Technology Hanzhong China.
² Shaanxi Bio-Resources Key Laboratory Hanzhong China.
³ Coordination and Innovation Center for Comprehensive Development of Qinba Biological Resources Hanzhong China.
⁴ College of Biological Science and Engineering Shaanxi University of Technology Hanzhong China.

Abstract

With the growing awareness of a healthy life, tea pigments (TPGs) are in focus for their health benefits. TPGs not only provide specific color to tea liquor but also possess health benefits such as anti-obesity, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-oxidative, and bacteriostatic properties. Also, TPGs can benefit bone, liver, kidney, cardiovascular, gut microbiome, and sleep health. Based on previous reports, this review provides a brief introduction to the health benefits of TPGs, focusing on the prevention of human diseases and the protection of organs. Also, the latest research on the functional mechanism(s), practical application, and development strategies of TPGs is discussed.

Keywords: functional mechanism; health benefits; industrial application; tea; tea pigment.

Publication types

Review