International Tea Day

 Saponins separated from tea seed have long been utilized as an emulsifier in the manufacturing of photo film. Some major saponins from seed and fresh leaves of green tea have so far identified. Recently pharmacological studies on tea seed saponins and tea leaf saponins demonstrated antiinfluenza, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, neutrophil stimulating and anti-allergic function of these substances. All over the world, influenza is a special threat to the aged, and infants with high mortality rates. Inactivation of influenza viruses by tea-seed saponins has been considered efficient in the prevention and therapy of influenza.

  Flavonoids , including more than 4,000 known individual compounds, are polyphenolic substances isolated from various plants. Beside catechins, Japanese green tea also contains other flavonoids, such as kaempherol, quercetin, myricetin and their glycosides derivatives. Flavonoids are found to have halitosis preventing effect, protective effects against lipid peroxidation of membranes, anti-mutagenic function, inhibition of tumor-promoting activity, inhibition of lipoxygenase and phospholipase, inhibition of histamine release, antihypertensive effects, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidative, hypocholesterolemic and diuretic functions. Therefore it appears that flavonoids can contribute significantly to the benefit of human health