The aim of this study was utilization of ground tea waste (GT) left after brewing the black tea as a biofiller of natural rubber (NR) composites. Ionic liquids (ILs), i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate and 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, often used to extract phytochemicals from tea, were applied to improve the dispersibility of GT particles in elastomeric matrix. The influence of GT loading and ILs on curing characteristics, crosslink density, mechanical properties, thermal stability and resistance of NR composites to thermo-oxidative aging was investigated. The amount of GT did not significantly affect curing characteristics and crosslink density of NR composites, but had serious impact on tensile properties. Applying 10 phr of GT improved the tensile strength by 40% compared to unfilled NR. Further increasing in GT content worsened the tensile strength due to the agglomeration of biofiller in elastomer matrix. ILs significantly improved the dispersion of GT particles in elastomer and increased the crosslink density by 20% compared to the benchmark. Owing to the poor thermal stability of pure GT, it reduced the thermal stability of vulcanizates compared to unfilled NR. Most importantly, GT-filled vulcanizates showed improved resistance to thermo-oxidative aging, since the aging factor increased by 25% compared to the unfilled vulcanizate.

The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture contributes to soil, water and air pollution, biodiversity loss and can harm non-target species. The European Commission has already established a Harmonized Risk Indicator to quantify the progress in reducing the risks linked to pesticides. Therefore, there is an increasing need to promote biopesticides or so-called low-risk pesticides (LRP). Extract from Melaleuca alternifolia – tea tree oil (TTO) is known for its antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil has been extensively studied in pest management as well as in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry and there are already products based on its active substances on the market. This review focuses on the overall evaluation of tea tree oil in terms of effectiveness and safety as a biopesticide for the first time. The collected data can be an added value for further evaluation of tea tree oil in terms of the authorization extension as a fungicide in 2026.

This study investigates how root environment acidification impacts tea seedlings and the role of magnesium (Mg) in mitigating these effects. We examine varying pH and Mg levels' influence on tea seedlings' resistance to abiotic stress, focusing on antioxidant capacity and nutritional content. In a hydroponic experiment, we varied root pH (3.5, 5.0, 6.5) and Mg concentrations (0.01, 0.4, 0.8 mM), assessing parameters like antioxidant capacity, peroxidative damage, and nutritional content at 1, 7, 15, and 30 days post-treatment. Root environment acidification and Mg deficiency worsened peroxidative damage in tea plant leaves and roots. Increased Mg supplementation enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, reducing malondialdehyde and mitigating oxidative damage from root environment acid stress. Under acid stress, 0.8 mM Mg significantly increased tea leaf polyphenols, amino acids, and water-soluble extracts. Mg notably boosted chlorophyll content, surpassing lower Mg levels at pH 5. Additionally, Mg reversed root vitality inhibition induced by acid stress, leading to increased nitrogen, potassium, and Mg concentrations in leaves, promoting balanced nutrient absorption. Mg supplementation is crucial for enhancing tea plant antioxidant capacity, alleviating growth inhibition from root environment acid stress, and improving chlorophyll content and root vitality, highlighting Mg's significance in tea cultivation and broader agricultural practices.

Technological advances in tea production are critical to meet global demands for tea consumption. To illuminate differences in the scientific and commercial relevance of research programs between major tea-related research organizations around the world, we conducted a bibliometric analysis comparing the scientific outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and patents, of six major research organizations published between January 01, 2008 and July 11, 2020. For this competitive ranking analysis, we examined a number of papers, research topics, academic influence, capacity for development, capacity for collaboration, and capacity for technological innovation. Among the six research organizations, Anhui Agricultural University (in China) had the most publications, while the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tea Research Institute showed a higher capacity for development. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (in India) and the University of Shizuoka (Japan) both showed high academic influence, while the University of Shizuoka, Tea Research Association Tocklai and National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (Japan) showed a high capacity for collaboration. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tea Research Institute applied for the most patents, while the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research applied for the most international patents.

The persistent challenge of IPF, characterized by disease progression and high mortality, underscores the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. We have developed a novel small molecule – catechin derivative ABI-171 – selectively targeting DYRK1A and PIM1 kinases, crucial in the pathogenesis of fibrotic processes. We employed the Bleomycin-induced (intratracheal) mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ABI-171. Mice with induced PF were treated QD with ABI-171 either prophylactically or therapeutically using oral and intranasal routes. Pirfenidone (100mg/kg, TID) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 100 mg/kg, QD), a natural catechin currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial, were used as reference compounds. ABI-171, administered prophylactically, led to a significant reduction in hydroxyproline levels and fibrotic tissue formation compared to the control group. Treatment with ABI-171 improved body weight, indicating mitigation of disease-related weight loss. Additionally, ABI-171 demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, reducing lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration. In the therapeutic setting, ABI-171, administered 7 days post-induction, reduced mortality rates (P = 0.04) compared with the bleomycin and EGCG control groups. ABI-171 also ameliorated the severity of lung injuries assessed by improved Masson’s trichrome scores when administered both orally and intranasally. ABI-171 significantly decreases bleomycin-induced PF and improves survival in mice, showcasing promising therapeutic potential beyond current medications like Pirfenidone and EGCG for patients with IPF. Based on these results, further studies with ABI-171 are ongoing in preclinical studies.

A preventive effect for tea and its bio active components in cardiovascular health has been suggested by the results of several epidemiological studies, treatments utilizing randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic investigations. Therefore, scientific interest in green tea's ability to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is growing. Green tea benefits for the metabolic syndrome, which includes diabetes and hypertension but may also raise cholesterol levels. Additionally, green tea reduces the mortality from any cause, arrhythmia, stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and other conditions.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from medicinal plants and infusions prepared on them, as well as the assessment of the transfer of these contaminants from plants to infusions. The separation of compounds was achieved using microwave extraction for dryed plants and liquid-liquid extraction in the case of infusions. The extracts were cleaned by solid phase extraction, and compounds analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The risks related to the consumption of the infusions from the analysed plants were also evaluated by calculating the exposure contribution to the infusion consumption (EDI, ng/Kg.bw/day) and Margins of Exposure (MOEs). The average total content of PAHs varied from 277.22±12.78 to 2466.46±203.45µg/kg in dry plants, and benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene are the compounds present in all samples. In the herbal tea infusions, the average total PAHs content varied between 612.55±46.12ng/L and 2292.2±140.24ng/L. Statistical analysis showed that only BabF shows a significant strong correlation between the content of individual PAHs in plants and their infusions, while BaP, 4PAHs and HMW-compounds showed weak correlations. Average transfer rates of ∑16PAHs from plants to infusions varied from 7.25 to 32.86%. The MOEs of BaP and 4PAHs in herbal tea infusions with the highest PAH content confirmed that the consumption of medicinal teas presents a low risk to contamination with PAHs.

Research has shown that the consumption of herbal teas is linked with positive effects on the regulation of postprandial blood glucose level. In this study, a comparative analysis of aqueous and ethanol extractions is performed on four herbal teas (Mallotus, Cyclocarya, Rubus, Vine) to evaluate their phytochemical profiles and functional activities. Investigations of phytochemical contents, antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions are carried out through colorimetric analyses and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS/MS, respectively. Results showed that among the studied herbal teas, Vine exhibited the highest glucose re-gulating abilities under both aqueous and ethanol extractions. Overall, ethanol extracted samples yielded higher phytochemicals content, but the compositions of the phytochemicals varied. Meanwhile, aqueous extracts showed surprisingly strong antioxidant activities and comparable α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with ethanol extracts. Phytochemicals contents presented a positive correlation with antioxidant activities and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Nevertheless, antioxidant activities displayed a weak positive correlation with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Results from this study provided evidence that aqueous extracts from herbal teas possessed valuable phytochemicals composition for antioxidants and the hyperglycemic populations, and are promising candidates for potential applications as functional ingredients with health promoting effects and as natural additives to boost the nutritional value of herbal food products.

A self-propelled electric tea seed-planter is designed to address the lack of tea seed seeding equipment, low seeding efficiency, and poor seeding uniformity. Based on the physical characteristics of the tea seeds and the agronomic requirements of tea planting, the key structure of the planter is designed, and the structural parameters are determined. The motor and battery configurations are determined by calculating the power consumption of the entire machine. In a field experiment, the driving gear (A), ditching depth (B), and planting gear position (C) are used as test factors, and the acceptance index (AI), replay index (RI) and leakage index (LI) are used as test indexes. The test results showed that the driving speed and planting gear position significantly affect the acceptance index, replay, and leakage index, whereas the ditching depth has little effect on the performance indexes. When the driving speed was medium, ditching depth was 30 mm, and planting gear position was in the third gear, the corresponding acceptance index was 87.22%, the replay index was 8.89%, and the leakage index was 3.89%. The test prototype has a good working quality and can provide theoretical guidance for production practices.

Lahpet-ye-hsain, known as a “tea shop” or teahouse, is where the people of Myanmar conduct their daily social activities besides its economic orientation. They are private establishments and informal gathering places serving tea and food at different times of the day for various clients. They can be small snacks, large open-aired, or covered restaurants with extensive menus. Patrons sit around small square tables on footstools. A diverse range of characters goes to tea shops. They have a reputation for welcoming people from all backgrounds and walks of life, but the role of women is hardly seen and unclear. They provide a space for men to share a cup of tea and food and exchange ideas, opinions, problems, hopes, and aspirations. They provide not only space but also to get ‘good taste and cheap food.’ A cup of tea at a tea shop is an opportunity to share knowledge amongst old and new friends. Such shops are abundant over the country. This paper examines the social, political, and economic role of these ubiquitous features of Myanmar society. The barriers to women's participation and inroads in some locales are discussed.

This study explores the complexities involved in the extraction and purification of catechins, prominent bioactive compounds found in plant extracts and tea. It addresses challenges arising from the intricate molecular structure of catechins and their inherent variability across botanical sources. Despite these obstacles, catechins present significant potential, particularly in healthcare. Their potent antioxidant properties have been extensively investigated and associated with numerous health benefits, positioning them as promising therapeutic agents for combating chronic diseases. Furthermore, catechins have diverse applications across various industries, including food and beverage, cosmetics, agriculture, and materials science. This abstract emphasizes the importance of continued research and innovation in catechin extraction and utilization, which hold promise for advancing human health and technological progress across multiple domains.

The physicochemical parameters, mineral composition, and nutraceutical properties of commercial “mekmeko” teas powder were analyzed in the present study. The pH of samples was slightly acidic (3.74 to 4.15), titratable acidity was low (0.094 to 0.155%) and sensory attributes (over all acceptability) were wide variable (5.9 - 6.69). The optimized selected commercial “mekmeko” tea obtained pH(4.05), titrable acidity(0.069%) ,acceptable sensory results (6.69), acceptable highest content of zinc (0.069 mg•L−1), magnesium (2.12 mg•L−1), potassium (62.34 mg•L−1),iron (0.28 mg•L−1) and calcium (17.19 mg•L−1). The nutrceticual property of optimized commercial “mekmeko” tea obtained acceptable highest content in total phenols (211.38 mg•L−1), total flavonoids (62.98 mg•L−1), total catechins (409.67 mg•L−1), and total anthocyanins (581.97 mg•L−1). Optimized “Mekmeko” teas showed the highest antioxidant capacity levels in DPPH (718.41 μmolTE•L−1), ABTS (607.62μmolTE•L−1), and FRAP (953.81μmolTE•L−1) assays. The results obtained in the present work give information to consumers for choosing flavored-colored ready-to-drink “mekmeko” tea based on the physicochemical, nutritional and nutraceutical properties.

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin (RF) is an essential micronutrient for human health and must be obtained from dietary sources. Plants biosynthesize riboflavin and are important dietary sources of vitamin B2 for humans. Our present study reports sensitive detection of Vitamin B2 in widely consumed for tea infusions, namely black, green, sage and rosemary tea infusions, by a capillary electrophoresis method combined with laser induced fluorescence detection. Moreover, the correlation between Vitamin B2 contents of tea plants with their total phenolics (TPs) and antioxidant capacity are evaluated in this study. Whereas green teas have the highest TPs and antioxidant capacity, the highest RF contents are in sage infusions. The RF contents range between 0.34 and 10.36 µg/g for all tea samples studied. Comparing RF contents of tea samples found in this study to the RF contents of known RF sources, tea infusions are proposed as important dietary sources of Vitamin B2.

The tea leaf paradox (TLP) describes unsteady fluid motions which help entrain and deposit suspended particles at the center of rotation. Various applications depend on the TLP for particle separations spanning across orders of magnitude in length scales and is an important problem in fluid mechanics. Despite papers describing the phenomena, the efficacy of particle separation using the TLP remains unclear as to the relative importance of for example hydrostatics, particle-fluid density ratio, wall friction, liquid bath aspect ratio and the rotation speed. The dynamics involved are notably complex and require a careful tuning of each variable. In this study, we have investigated the role of the limit of the aggregation dynamics in rotational flows within 3D-printed vessels of various sizes in tandem with particle imaging to probe the dissipation effects on the particle motions. We have found that the liquid bath aspect ratio limits how much aggregation may occur for a particle-fluid density ratio greater than unity (e.g., $\rho_p/\rho_f >1$, where $\rho_p$ is the density of the particle and $\rho_f$ is the ambient fluid density.

Tea (Camellia L.) falls into the family Theaceae, is a valuable commercial crop, and tea products made from its buds and young leaves are favored by consumers all over the world. The more common Thea plant is Camellia sinensis (C. sinensis), but its most important relative, Camellia taliensis (C. taliensis), is also utilized by locals in the area of cultivation to manufacture tea. In this investigation, C. taliensis (DL) and C. sinensis (QJZ) were characterized in terms of their agronomic traits, physicochemical indices, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. The leaf area of DL is larger than that of QJZ; the color of DL’s buds and leaves is yellowish-green, while that of QJZ’s is green. DL’s buds and leaves are more densely velvety than those of QJZ. The HPLC results indicated that the physicochemical contents varied considerably between the two samples, with DL having greater concentrations of EGCG and GABA than QJZ, while QJZ had remarkably higher concentrations of C, CA, and EGC than DL. A total of 2269 metabolites and 362,190,414 genes were positively identified, with the number of DAMs and DEGs being 1001 and 34,026, respectively. The flavonoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloid metabolites were dramatically different between the two tea group plants. Bioinformatics profiling revealed that the DAMs and DEGs of the two tea group plants interacted with each other and were involved in metabolic pathways including “biosynthesis of secondary metabolites”, “biosynthesis of amino acids”, “biosynthesis of cofactors”, “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, and “flavonoid biosynthesis”. Overall, these results provide statistical support for germplasm conservation and production for both C. taliensis and C. sinensis.

Species belonging to the Bauhinia genus, usually known as "pata-de-vaca", are popularly used to treat diabetes. Among them is Bauhinia ungulata var. obtusifolia (Ducke) Vaz, whose leaves are used, as a tea, for medicinal purposes in the Amazon region. The microencapsulation of the aqueous extract of its leaves, containing phenolic compounds, using five different wall materials (maltodextrin: DE11-14, and DE4-7; β-cyclodextrin; pectin, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose) is described in this paper. The microstructure, particle size, thermal behavior, yield, and encapsulation efficiency were investigated and compared using different techniques. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, phenolics, and flavonoids were detected and quantified in the microparticles. Microparticles, obtained with yield and phenolics encapsulation efficiency ranging between 60-83 % and 35-57 %, respectively, showed a particle size distribution between 1.15 and 5.54 µm, spherical morphology, and wrinkled surface. Among them, those prepared with sodium carboxymethylcellulose and pectin proved to be thermally the most stable. They had the highest flavonoid content (23.07 and 21.73 mgRUTE/g Extract) and total antioxidant activity by both the DPPH· (376.55 and 367.86 µmolTrolox/g Extract) and ABTS·+ (1085.72 and 1062.32 µmolTrolox/ g Extract) assays. The chromatographic analyses allowed for quantification, in the microparticles, chlorogenic acid (1.67-1.98 mg/g Extract), p-coumaric acid (0.06-0.08 mg/g Extract), rutin (11.1-12.9 mg/g Extract) and isoquercitrin (0.47-0.53 mg/g Extract), compounds considered responsible for the antidiabetic property attributed to the species.

Plants of the golden Camellia group are not only high-quality camellia germplasm , but also a plant group with rich medicinal and nutritional value, which are used as food, cosmetics and traditional medicine in China. There are approximately 50 species in this group around the world, and more than 30 species of golden camelliaplants have been published in China. The leaves and flowers of these species have similar shapes, so they are often confused as species. Our study used simplified genome sequencing technology to construct a phylogenetic tree of plants in the Chinese golden Camellia group and describe the evolutionary relationships . At the same time, the secondary metabolic indexes of total phenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and ellagic acid in the leaves were determined., and principal component clustering analysis was performed . The results showed that the chemical classification and genetic phylogenetic trees showed some of the same trends, indicating that Camellia chinensis can be used as Biomarkers for chemical type. The research results provide phylogenetic information for the genotype and performance diversity of golden camelliaregionally distributed in China. At the same time, molecular biology phylogenetic methods are used to understand or explain the characteristics of secondary metabolites of golden Camellia , and provide theoretical basis for the search and development of potential bioactive substances.

Fracture is a global public health disease. Bone health and fracture risk have become the focus of public and scientific attention. Observational studies have reported that tea consumption is associated with fracture risk, but the results are inconsistent. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether tea consumption was causally associated with the risk of bone fracture through two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. We included a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) associated with tea consumption of 447,485 individuals and analyzed the effects of genetic instruments on fractures using fracture cases from the UK Biobank dataset (n=361,194). Inverse variance weighted (IVW) indicated no causal effects of tea consumption on fractures of the skull and face, shoulder and upper arm, hand and wrist, femur, calf, and ankle (odds ratio=1.000, P=0.881; OR=1.000, P=0.857; OR=1.002, P=0.339; OR=0.997, P=0.054; OR=0.998, P=0.569, respectively). Consistent results were also found in MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode. Our research provided evidence that tea consumption is unlikely to affect the incidence of fractures.

Thirty-six healthy 21-day-old weaned ternary piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly divided into 2 treatments with 18 replicates per treatment and 1 pig per replicate. The control group was fed with basal diet and the test group was fed with diets supplemented with 1 kg/t tea residue. The test period was 28 days. The results are as follows: The addition of tea residue in the diet has no significant effect on the growth performance of weaned piglets (P > 0.05), but it could significantly reduce the diarrhea rate of piglets from 1 to 7 days and 1 to 28 days (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the dietary supplementation of tea residue had no significant effect on nutrient apparent digestibility, plasma biochemical indexes and plasma immune indexes (P > 0.05), but increased the content of glutathione in plasma (P < 0.05). Tea residue had no significant effect on the morphology of jejunum and ileum of piglets (P > 0.05), but it could significantly reduce the content of chloride ion in feces (P < 0.05). Compared with the basal diet group, there was no significant difference in the relative expression of TMEM16A and CFTR mRNA in the colon of weaned piglets (P > 0.05). The whole-cell patch clamp recording showed that the TMEM16A and CFTR ion channels could be activated by ionomycin and forskolin, respectively. However, when the HT-29 cells transfected with TMEM16A and CFTR channels were treated with tea residue extract, it could significantly inhibit the chloride current of the TMEM16A and CFTR ion channels (P < 0.05).

China Xihu Longjing tea famous for its good flavor and quality. However, the related metabolites information except flavonoids is largely deficient. Different processing methods of China Xihu Longjing tea fixing both by machine at first and second step(A1), first step by machine and second step by hand(A2), first step by hand and second step by machine(A3), both by hand at first and second step (A4) were compared using a UHPLC-QE-MS-based metabolomics approach. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the metabolic profiles of the processed samples. A total of 490 metabolites (3 alkaloids, 3 anthracenes, 15 benzene and substituted derivatives, 2 benzopyrans, 13 coumarins and derivatives, 128 flavonoids, 4 furanoid lignans, 16 glycosides and derivatives, 5 indoles and derivatives, 18 isocoumarins and derivatives, 4 chalcones and dihydrochalcones, 4 naphthopyrans, 3 nucleosides, 78 organic acids and derivatives, 55 organooxygen compounds, 5 phenols, 109 prenol lipids, 3 saccharolipids, 3 steroids and steroid derivatives, 17 tannins) were identified. The different metabolism profiles were distinguished using PCA and OPLS-DA. There were differences in the types and contents of metabolites, especially flavonoids, furanoid lignans, glycosides and derivatives, organic acids and derivatives and organooxygen compounds. There was a positive correlation between flavonoid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. However, there was a negative correlation between flavonoid metabolism and amino acid metabolism, which had the same trend as prenol lipids metabolism, tannin.This study provides new valuable information for regarding differences in the metabolite profile of China Xihu Longjing tea processed based on machine fixing and manual fixing methods.

Three-choice preferences for fermented sorghum teas (FST) were examined among 11 adult Ossabaw pigs. The objectives for experiments 1 and 2 (respectively) were to determine preference for: 1) one of three types of FST (white vs. sumac vs. roasted sumac), and 2) isocaloric control (+control; made isocaloric with sucrose), blended FST (3Tea; equal parts of white, sumac, and roasted-sumac), or a negative control (-control; distilled water; avoidance). Pigs were first conditioned to navigate a three-choice preference maze. For experiment 1, no clear preference behaviors for tea-type were observed. Pigs consumed nearly all the teas, but pigs consumed the least amount of tea in the first session. Pigs spent the most time with their heads in the bowl when 3Tea was offered, followed by +control, and the least time was -control.  Regardless of tea-type, adult pigs show a strong preference for FST, even over +control, which was sweetened water. Adult pigs likely prefer the complexity of flavors, rather than the sweetness alone.  Future projects that explore the health benefits of this sorghum formula will not be impeded by avoidance among adult pigs.

A rapid and efficient method using an alkyl functionalized magnetic nanoparticles-based extraction technique combined with Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography was developed for the detection of trace amounts of polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons in tea leaves. As a popular coating for chromatographic column packing materials, C18-alkyl has been demonstrated to be effective in separating polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons. And the magnetism of the nanomaterials accelerates the extraction process while their high surface ratio enables desirable dispersity in the sample matrix. Meanwhile, the adsorbents can be washed and reused 30 times without compromise on recovery, which greatly reduced the budget. The effects of various parameters were investigated and optimized, and the recoveries for five analytes were in the range of 84.8–103.7%. The reproducibility rate of intra-day and inter-day were below 7.1% and 11.3% respectively. The limits of detection and limits of quantification ranged from 1.69–9.97 ng g-1 and 5.12–30.21 ng g-1, indicating satisfactory sensitivity. Thus, the proposed methodology is rapid, highly efficient, and economical, and it expands the application of magnetic cleanup approaches in complex food matrices.

A diet high in polyphenols is associated with a diversified gut microbiome. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water. The health benefits of tea might be attributed to the presence of polyphenol compounds such as catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids. Although many studies are on tea, little is known of its effects on trillions of gut microbiota. Hence, this review is aimed at systematically studying the effect of tea polyphenols on the stimulation or suppression of gut microbiota in humans and animals. It was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Articles were retrieved from PubMed and Scopus databases, and data were extracted from 6 human trials and 15 animal studies. Overall, huge variations were observed in terms of microbiota composition between humans and animals. A more consistent pattern of diversified microbiota was observed in animal studies. Tea alleviated the gut microbiota imbalance caused by high-fat diet-induced obesity, diabetes, and ultraviolet-induced damage. Overall changes in microbiota composition measured by beta diversity analysis showed that tea had shifted the microbiota from the pattern seen in animals that received tea-free intervention. In humans, the prebiotic-like effect was observed towards gut microbiota, but these results appear in lower-quality studies. Beta diversity in human microbiota remains intact despite tea intervention; supplementation with different teas affected different types of bacterial taxa in the gut. These studies suggest that tea polyphenols may have a prebiotic effect in disease-induced animals and in a limited number of human interventions. Further intervention is needed to identify the mechanisms of action underlying the effects of tea on gut microbiota.

Green Tea Catechins (GTCs) are a family of chemically related compounds usually classified as antioxidant molecules. Epidemiological evidences, supported by interventional studies, highlighted a more than promising role for GTCs in human Prostate Cancer (PCa) chemoprevention.In the last decades many efforts have been made to gain new insights into the mechanism of action of GTCs. Now it is clear that GTCs anticancer action can no longer be simplistically limited to their direct antioxidant/pro-oxidant properties. Recent contributions to the advancement of knowledge in this field have shown that GTCs specifically interact with cellular targets including, cell surface receptors, lipid rafts and endoplasmic reticulum, modulate gene expression through direct effect on transcription factors or indirect epigenetic mechanisms, interfere with intracellular proteostasis at various levels. Many of the effects observed in vitro are dose and cell context dependent and take place at concentration that cannot be achieved in vivo.Poor intestinal absorption together with an extensive systemic and enteric metabolism influence GTCs bioavailability through still poor understood mechanisms. Recent efforts to develop delivery systems that increase GTCs overall bioavailability, by mean of biopolymeric nanoparticles, represent the main way to translate preclinical results in a real clinical scenario for PCa chemoprevention.

Chrysanthemum tea, a typical health tea with the same origin as medicine and food, is famous for its unique health benefits and flavor. To clarify the influence of metabolites of different varieties of chrysanthemum tea on the formation of taste and quality differences, nontargeted metabolomics combined with electronic tongue analysis were used to characterize the correlation between metabolites profiles and taste characteristics of different quality chrysanthemum tea. Thirteen metabolites were identified as the key metabolites of the sensory quality difference between Huangju and Jinsi Huangju tea. Kaempferol, luteolin, genistein, and some quinic acid derivatives were correlated with the ‘astringent’ and taste attributes. In contrast, l-(-)-3 phenyllactic acid and L-malic acid were found to be the ‘bitterness’ and ‘umami’ in chrysanthemum tea. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis pathway had important effects on the sensory quality of chrysanthemum tea.

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are economically important horticultural crops for industrial use. The drink (tea) obtained from them is used all over the world, and its functional activity is determined by the polyphenols content and composition. Its accumulation is regulated by the action of many environmental factors. This paper presents data on the different intensity (50, 75, and 100 µmol·m−2·s−1) and duration of light exposure on tea plant in vitro cultures. Changes in morphophysiological characteristics, accumulation of carbohydrates and polyphenols, including their monomeric (phenylpropanoids, flavanols) and oligomeric (proanthocyanidins) forms, were studied. The malondialdehyde and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b) contents were also analyzed. In the calli grown in light conditions, chloroplasts and anthocyanoplasts formation was noted, which was especially pronounced under the highest illumination intensity. A significant similarity between the growth of callus cultures, the carbohydrates and polyphenols accumulation at 50 and 75 µmol·m−2·s−1 was established. Which wasn’t characteristic of the calli grown at 100 µmol·m−2·s−1. The stress reaction absence in tea callus cultures has been demonstrated, which may be a consequence of the phenolic antioxidants’ accumulation in them. The obtained data evidence that their potential ability to accumulate primary (carbohydrates) and secondary (polyphenols) metabolites depends on the light exposure intensity and duration.

Soil organic matter is an important component that reflects soil fertility and promotes plant growth. The soil of typical Chinese tea plantations was used as the research object in this work, and by combining soil hyperspectral data and image texture characteristics, a quantitative prediction model of soil organic matter based on machine vision and hyperspectral imaging technology was built. Three methods, standard normalized variate (SNV), multisource scattering correction (MSC) and smoothing, were first used to preprocess the spectra. After that, random frog (RF), variable combination population analysis (VCPA) and variable combination population analysis and iterative retained information variable algorithm (VCPA-IRIV) algorithms were used to extract the characteristic bands. Finally, the quantitative prediction model of nonlinear support vector regression (SVR) and linear partial least squares regression (PLSR) for soil organic matter was established by combining nine color features and five texture features of hyperspectral images. The outcomes demonstrate that, in comparison to single spectral data, fusion data may greatly increase the performance of the prediction model, with MSC+VCPA-IRIV+SVR (R2C=0.995, R2P=0.986, RPD=8.155) being the optimal approach combination. This work offers excellent justification for more investigation into nondestructive methods for determining the amount of organic matter in soil.

Emerging evidence demonstrated that using a new manufacturing technology to produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-fortified oolong (GO) tea could relieve human stress and exert versatile physiological benefits. The purpose of this human research aims to investigate therapeutic effects of daily GO tea consumption on the improvement of blood pressure, relaxation-related brain waves and quality of life (QOL) during a period of 28 consecutive days. Total polyphenols, major catechins and free amino acids were analyzed via HPLC assay. Changes of heart rate, blood pressure, α-brain wave (index of relaxation) and eight-item QOL score were investigated on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28, respectively. The chemical analysis results showed that GO tea contained the most abundant amino acids and GABA, contributing to the relaxation activity. Among all study participants, daily drinking GO tea could reduce systolic blood pressure on day 21 and diastolic blood pressure on day 28 (p &lt; 0.05, respectively). For participants with pre-hypertension, GO tea could effectively reduce heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure on day 28 (p &lt; 0.05). At the end of the study, incremental changes in alpha-brain wave and QOL scores were also demonstrated (p &lt; 0.05, respectively). This study recommended that GO tea might potentially serve as a natural source of alternative therapy to benefit blood pressure, stress-relief and QOL.

Background: Recently the role of nutraceutical compounds in the prevention of human diseases is rapidly increasing. Here, we aim to evaluate the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with seven active principles, lycopene, sulphoraphane, silymarin, glutathione, escin, tryptophan, green tea catechins, on human health. Methods: An extensive search of PubMed and Medline database was performed with the following keywords: “silymarin”, “sulforaphane”, “lycopene”, “green tea catechins”, “tryptophan”, “glutathione” and “escin” accompanied by the keywords “supplement”, “supplementation”, “nutraceutics”. All pre-clinical and clinical trials have been considered for this review. Results: One-hundred and eighteen full-text articles were eligible for inclusion in this review. The papers examined presented considerable variability due to the wide heterogeneity of dosages administered, population involved and outcomes pursued. Conclusion: Nutritional supplementation with lycopene, sulphoraphane, silymarin, glutathione, escin, tryptophan and green tea catechins appears to exert a wide range of benefits on human health, ranging from mood and cognition to cardiovascular health, fertility, metabolism, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, potential anti-cancer effects. Further studies are required to better define the potential synergic effect, optimal dosage, mechanism of action and tolerability profile of these substances.

Background: Recently the role of nutraceutical compounds in the prevention of human diseases is rapidly increasing. Here, we aim to evaluate the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with seven active principles, lycopene, sulphoraphane, silymarin, glutathione, escin, tryptophan, green tea catechins, on human health. Methods: An extensive search of PubMed and Medline database was performed with the following keywords: “silymarin”, “sulforaphane”, “lycopene”, “green tea catechins”, “tryptophan”, “glutathione” and “escin” accompanied by the keywords “supplement”, “supplementation”, “nutraceutics”. All pre-clinical and clinical trials have been considered for this review. Results: One-hundred and eighteen full-text articles were eligible for inclusion in this review. The papers examined presented considerable variability due to the wide heterogeneity of dosages administered, population involved and outcomes pursued. Conclusion: Nutritional supplementation with lycopene, sulphoraphane, silymarin, glutathione, escin, tryptophan and green tea catechins appears to exert a wide range of benefits on human health, ranging from mood and cognition to cardiovascular health, fertility, metabolism, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, potential anti-cancer effects. Further studies are required to better define the potential synergic effect, optimal dosage, mechanism of action and tolerability profile of these substances.

The production of instant green tea requires hot-water extraction, which is time consuming and contributes to losses in aromatic compounds. In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted technology was used to improve the extraction efficiency of green tea, thereby shortening extraction time from 45 to 15 min. In pure water, the dissolution of caffeine and theanine did not change significantly, but total catechin dissolution increased by 0.23 mg/mL and total tea polyphenol dissolution decreased by 3.2 mg/mL. In 76.2% ethanol, the dissolution of caffeine and theanine did not change significantly, but total catechin dissolution increased by 1.57mg/mL and total tea polyphenol dissolution decreased by 1.5 mg/mL. Additionally, we used microwave-assisted technology to further improve the extraction efficiency of green tea, which shortened the extraction time to 2 min. However, the extraction rate remained unchanged. In pure water, the dissolution of caffeine and theanine did not change significantly, but the dissolution of total catechins increased by 0.41 mg/mL and the dissolution of tea polyphenols decreased by 2.9 mg/mL. Ultrasonic treatment increased the proportion of 3-hydroxybutan-2-one, (5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-one and 2-phenylethanol, which were the main aroma compounds in tea. Microwave treatment changed the aroma compounds in tea, causing losses in aroma compounds with low boiling point and maintaining (5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-one. The taste and aroma of instant green tea improved based on sensory evaluation results.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of tea polyphenol （TP） on serum hormone, serum enzyme activity, antioxidant-related and immune-related gene expression of laying hens under heat stress. A total of 288 Chinese yellow chicken (186 days old) were randomly distributed among two treatments, each of which included 6 replicates of 24 hens. Dietary treatments were that the basal diet was supplemented with 200 mg / kg tea polyphenol. The study lasted for 7 weeks, including 1 week of adaptation and 6 weeks of the formal test. The content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total protein (TP) in serum significantly decreased by dietary supplementation with tea polyphenol. Dietary tea polyphenol supplementation improved serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activity and decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content in treatments compared to the control. However, supplementation of tea polyphenol did not affect the activity of serum catalase (CAT). The results indicated that long-term feeding of tea polyphenols help to increase the amount of hormones (FSH, E2) associated with reproduction in laying hens and thus improve egg production. It also improved the immune function of laying hens in high temperature environments. Adding tea polyphenols to the diet can significantly increase the serum IgG, IgM content of the laying hens and can upregulate the IgA content. Dietary supplementation of tea polyphenols in the laying hens significantly increased the expression of antioxidant enzyme-related genes (SOD, CAT and GPX1) in the liver. Moreover, the addition of tea polyphenols significantly increased the expression of immune-related genes (Interferon-γ (INF-γ), Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and Interleukin 4 (IL-4)) in the spleen. It is concluded that addition of tea polyphenols has a positive effect on antioxidant activity and immune function of laying hens.

Tea (Camellia sinenesis) is a health beneficial beverage and is also a source for extracting bioactive components such as theanine, tea polyphenols (TPP) and tea polysaccharides (TPS). TPS is a group of hetero-polysaccharides bounded with proteins. There were tests showing that TPS had various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antitumors, antihyperglycemia, anti-inflammation and improving immunity. However, inconsistent results concerning chemical composition and bioactivity of TPS were published in recent years. The advances in chemical composition and bioactivities of TPS were reviewed in the present paper. The inconsistent and controversial results regarding composition and bioactivities of TPS were also discussed.

Fibrosis is a ubiquitous pathology, and prior studies have indicated that various artemisinin (ART) derivatives (including artesunate (AS), artemether (AM), and dihydroartemisinin (DHA)) can reduce fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. The medicinal plant, Artemisia annua L., is the natural source of ART and is widely used, especially in underdeveloped countries, to treat a variety of diseases including malaria, while A. afra contains no ART but is also antimalarial. Using human dermal fibroblasts (CRL-2097), we compared the effects of A. annua and A. afra tea infusions, ART, AS, AM, DHA, and a liver metabolite of ART, deoxyART (dART), on fibroblast viability and expression of key fibrotic marker genes after 1 and 4 days of treatment. AS, DHA, and Artemisia tea significantly reduced fibroblast viability at 1 and 4 d post-treatment. After 4 d post treatment, AS, DHA, and A. afra tea downregulated ACTA2, and upregulated MMP3, with other genes either being unaffected or differentially affected. ART and AM had no significant effect on either fibroblast viability or fibrotic gene expression. Although A. annua contains ART, it had a significantly greater anti-fibrotic effect than ART alone. Immunofluorescent staining for smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) correlated well with transcriptional responses of drug-treated fibroblasts. Together, proliferation, qPCR, and immunofluorescence results show that treatment with ART, AS, DHA, and the two Artemisia teas yield differing responses, including those related to fibrosis, in human dermal fibroblasts.

The presence of heavy metals in industrial effluents has recently become a source of concern for human health and the environment. Efficient removal of metal ions and wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health and the environment. In this study, we present an eco-friendly, green synthesis of reactive and fully dispersed zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in carbon nanofibers via an electrospinning technique. In this novel study, green tea (GT) was used as environmentally friendly, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used for the stabilization and reduction of nZVI, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was added to provide flexibility and to increase the specific surface area of the nZVI based nanofibers. GT contains polyphenols, which act as reducing agents, converting iron ions into nZVI and the particles can then serve as the building blocks for the carbon nanofibers. TEOS can also contribute to the stability of the nZVI by coating their surfaces with a silica layer. This silica layer helps prevent the oxidation of the nZVI, thereby reducing their catalytic activity. The nZVI-based composite (∼ 400 nm) / carbonized (∼ 200 nm) nanofibrous mats were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The average size of the nZVI embedded in the composite and carbonized nanofibers can range from 50 nm to 100 nm. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of nZVI-based carbon nanofibers showed that there is no crystallinity and a single-phase cubic structure. Both energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis also confirmed the formation of single-phase nZVI-based composite / carbonized nanofibers. The high intensity of the peaks in the FTIR spectrum indicates the formation of nZVI in the nanofibers structure. The electrospun nZVI-based carbon nanofibers have a higher surface area and better reactivity due to small particle size and large surface area-to-volume ratio. They can provide excellent water stability and dispersibility in water compared to bulk nZVI, which tend to agglomerate and settle quickly. Additionally, nanofiber morphology can enhance the mechanical strength and durability of the composite material. Due to low-cost synthesis and their high efficiency in removing pollutants, these nanofibers could be used as nano-filters for wastewater treatment.

Infusions of Camellia sinensis leaves have been known for their health benefits. The ABC method is a method of enriching organic infusion leaves (from Camellia. sinensis) with organic dry and concentrated extracts using organic acacia gum and its application to white tea has provided Qi cha tea®. In the present study, we assessed the content of tea polyphenols and caffeine, and biochemical properties of Qi cha tea® and its botanical constituents. Antioxidant and cell viability activities were determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay and MTT assay in Caco-2 and human HCT-116 cell lines, respectively. The caffeine, catechin, epicatechin composition of Qi cha tea® was modified with less caffeine and gallic acid and more EGCG than the original white tea. The majority of the tested botanical samples including Qi cha tea® at 50 µg/mL showed similar antioxidant activities, with the exception of Echinacea. The greatest effect was found for white tea. The antioxidant power of the Qi cha tea® (90% at 50 µg/mL for pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was divided by approximately a factor of 2 (61% at 50 µg/mL for pressurized liquid extraction products (PLEP)) which corresponds to the 48.3 % (mass/mass) white tea original content in the Qi cha tea®. Qi cha tea® showed the lowest activity in the viability of the two cell lines. The application of the ABC (Bio Concentrate Assets®) method to Qi cha tea® using various botanicals and dry extract with the acacia gum as blinder has allowed the development a new innovative functional health beverages which comply with European health claims.

A healthy park-people relation depends essentially on the fair and sustainable maintenance of rural livelihood. When protected area is designated, rural people may face restrictions of access to land and resource use for multiple ecosystem services. In Wuyishan of China, we analysed the role of traditional tea cultivation during consistent protected area management to find ways to maintain stability of this social-ecological system in the new national park era. We used an intensive social survey to investigate tea’s role, perception of ecosystem services and impacts on tea cultivation from consistent conservation policies. Results showed that tea cultivation brought major household income and associated with multiple culture services. Protected area management affected land use and conservation outcomes were more obvious to farmers than economic and social ones. From the perspective of a social-ecological system, tea cultivation in national should be conservation-compatible activities from which the potentially lost economic value is remedied by ecological and cultural valorisation. To sustain the resilience of the social-ecological system, we proposed a three-scale management framework to regulate biophysical elements at land plot scale, to link production and market at the mountain level, and to secure tenure and encourage community participation at the landscape level.

The production of coffee leaf tea (Coffea arabica) in El Salvador and the influences of processing steps on non-volatile compounds and volatile aroma-active compounds were investigated. The tea was produced according to process steps of conventional tea (Camellia sinensis) with available possibilities on the farm. Influencing factors were the leaf type (old, young, yellow, shoots), processing (blending, cutting, rolling, freezing, steaming), drying (sun drying, oven drying, roasting) and fermentation (wild, yeast, Lactobacillus). Subsequently, the samples were analysed for the maximum levels of caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and epigallocatechin gallate permitted by the European Commission. The caffeine content varied between 0.37 g/100 g dry mass (DM) and 1.33 g/100 g DM, the chlorogenic acid between not detectable and 9.35 g /100 g DM and epigallocatechin gallate could not be detected at all. Furthermore, water content, essential oil, ash content, total polyphenols, total catechins, organic acids, and trigonelline were determined. Gas chromatography—mass spectrometry-olfactometry and calculating of the odour activity values (OAVs) were carried out to determine the main aroma-active compounds, which are β-ionone (honey-like, OAV 132-927), decanal (citrus-like, floral, OAV 14-301), α-ionone (floral, OAV 30-100), (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (cucumber-like, OAV 18-256), 2,4-nonadienal (melon-like, OAV 2-18), octanal (fruity, OAV 7-23), (E)-2 nonenal (citrus-like, OAV 1-11), hexanal (grassy, OAV 1-10), and 4-heptenal (green, OAV 1-9).

Candida albicans, a significant human pathogen due to its biofilm-forming ability, poses a serious health risk. This study investigates the antifungal activity and biofilm inhibition potential of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) from Melaleuca alternifolia cultivated in Vietnam. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, including terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, and terpinolene, the essential oil of M. alternifolia, commonly referred to as TTO, is scrutinized for its impact on C. albicans. The study meticulously determines the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of TTO against C. albicans in both planktonic and biofilm states. Additionally, it assesses the biofilm-forming capacity of C. albicans and establishes the Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) of TTO. Employing a liquid culture dilution method within a defined concentration range of 0.1 μL/mL to 10 μL/mL, the experimental approach adheres to established protocols. The outcomes reveal a noteworthy MIC and MIC₈₀ of 0.1 μL/mL and 2 μL/mL, respectively, and an MFC of 10 μL/mL for TTO against C. albicans. Furthermore, TTO exhibits an MBIC of 2 μL/mL, showcasing its efficacy in inhibiting biofilm formation. However, the MBEC of TTO remains uncertain, possibly due to insufficient concentration tested, which may not effectively disrupt over 50% of the pre-formed biofilm mass within 24 hours. These findings highlight TTO’s significant potential as both an antifungal agent and a biofilm inhibitor against C. albicans, providing essential insights that could guide the development of new therapeutic approaches for treating fungal infections.

Herein, we applied DNA Barcoding for the genetic characterization of Sideritis syriaca subsp. syriaca (Lamiaceae; threatened local Cretan endemic plant), using seven molecular markers of cpDNA. Five fertilization schemes were evaluated comparatively in a pilot cultivation in Crete. Chemical fertilizers (ChF), integrated nutrient management fertilizers (INM) and two biostimulants were utilized (foliar and soil application). Plant growth, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and colour were assessed, and leaf content of chlorophyll, key antioxidants (carotenoids, flavonoids, phenols), and minerals were evaluat-ed. Fertilization regime did not affect leaf colour but induced distinct differences in leaf shape altering quality characteristics. INM-foliar and ChF-soil application promoted yield, without affecting tissue water content or biomass partitioning to inflorescences. ChF-foliar application was the most stimulato-ry treatment for enhanced antioxidant compound content, while INM-biostimulant was the least effec-tive one. In conclusion, adverse fertilization options appear as optimal when considering yield or anti-oxidant compound content. New DNA sequence datasets for the plastid regions of petB/petD, rpoC1, psbK-psbI and atpF/atpH have been deposited in the GenBank for S. syriaca subsp. syriaca while the mo-lecular markers rbcL, trnL/trnF, psbA/trnH were compared to those of another 15 Sideritis species re-trieved from the GenBank, constructing a phylogenetic tree to show their genetic relatedness.

In the context of digital empowerment, the digital literacy level of tea farmers has a significant impact on the intelligent development and transformation of the tea industry. This study extends the original model of UTAUT theory by introducing Personal innovativeness theory and Self-efficacy theory, and constructs a new model to explore the influencing factors of moderate scale tea farmers' digital literacy improvement behavior. There are a total of 22 research hypotheses. Using structural equation modeling and collecting questionnaire data for analysis, the following research results were obtained: (1) Performance expectancy, social influence, effort expectancy, personal innovativeness and self-efficacy all significantly positively affect the willingness of tea farmers to improve their digital literacy, and then according to the path coefficient, in descending order, social influence (0.226)>self-efficacy (0.224)>effort expectancy (0.178)>performance expectancy (0.157)> personal innovativeness (0.155); (2) Facilitating condition and willingness to improve digital literacy have a significant positive impact on tea farmers' digital literacy improvement behavior，and then from the size of the path coefficient, the willingness to improve (0.271)>facilitating condition (0.106); (3) The willingness of tea farmers to improve their digital literacy plays a complete mediating role between personal innovativeness and self-efficacy on their digital literacy improvement behavior, and partially mediates between performance expectancy, social influence, and effort expectancy on their digital literacy improvement behavior, and according to the proportion of indirect effects, the order is effort expectancy (27%), performance expectancy (47%), and social influence (49%); (4) The gender and age of tea farmers have a significant positive moderating effect on the impact of performance expectancy on the willingness to improve digital literacy; age and experience have a significant positive moderating effect on the impact of effort expectancy on the willingness to improve digital literacy; the age of tea farmers has a significant positive moderating effect on the improvement of digital literacy behavior through facilitating condition. This study extends the applicability of the UTAUT theoretical model and proposes strategies to improve the digital literacy of tea farmers, providing practical guidance for tea farmers to improve their digital literacy and providing reference for research related to farmers' digital literacy.

Recent lines of evidence suggest the intriguing hypothesis that consuming common culinary herbs of the mint family might help prevent or treat Covid. Individual citizens could easily explore the hypothesis using ordinary kitchen materials. I offer a philosophical framework to account for the puzzling lack of public health messaging about this interesting idea.

Soil bacteria drive key ecosystem functions, including nutrient mobilization, soil aggregation and crop bioprotection against pathogens. Bacterial diversity is thus considered a key component of soil health. Conventional agriculture reduces bacterial diversity in many ways. Compost tea has been suggested as a bioinoculant that may restore bacterial community diversity and promote crop performance under conventional agriculture. Here, we conducted a field experiment to test this hypothesis in a soybean-maize rotation. Compost tea application had no influence on bacterial diversity or community structure. Plant growth and yield were also unresponsive to compost tea application. Combined, our results suggest that our compost tea bacteria did not thrive in the soil, and that the positive impacts of compost tea applications reported elsewhere may be caused by different microbial groups (e.g., fungi, protists, nematodes) or by abiotic effects on soil (e.g., contribution of nutrients and dissolved organic matter). Further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which compost tea influences crop performance.

The viability, productivity and survival of higher plants under the adverse factors influence are largely determined by the functional activity of the antioxidant system. The aim of our work was to investigate changes in formation of high-molecular (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) and low-molecular (phenolics, including flavanols and proanthocyanidins) antioxidants in callus culture of Camellia sinensis under influence of phenolic precursors (L-phenylalanine – 3 mM, trans-cinnamic acid – 1 mM, naringenin – 0.5 mM). According to the data obtained, precursors effect on tea callus cultures did not lead to significant increasing of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity in most cases. However, it led to the increased accumulation of the total phenolics content, as well as flavanols and proanthocyanidins contents. For C. sinensis callus cultures, the most promising regulator of phenolic compounds was L-phenylalanine, in the presence of which its content increased almost twice. Thus, the exogenous effect of various precursors is possible to use for the targeted regulation of the certain phenolics classes accumulation in plant cells.

Background: Studies exploring the possible protective effect of coffee and tea consumption on dementia showed inconsistent results so far. We aimed to investigate whether consumption of tea and different types of coffee at midlife are associated with dementia later in life and, whether sex or ApoE4 influence such association. Methods: We included 7381 participants from the Norwegian HUNT Study. Self-reported questionnaires assessed daily consumption of coffee and tea at baseline. After 22 years, individuals 70 years or older were screened on cognitive impairment. Results: General coffee consumption and tea consumption was not associated with dementia risk. Compared to daily consumption of 0-1 cups of coffee, daily consumption of ≥8 cups of boiled coffee was associated with increased dementia risk in women (OR:1.83, 95% CI: 1.10-3.04, p-value for trend=0.03) and daily consumption of 4-5 cups of other types of coffee was associated with a decrease in dementia risk in only men (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32-0.72, p-value for trend =0.05). Furthermore, the association between boiled coffee and increased dementia risk was only found in ApoE4 non-carriers. Differences by sex or ApoE4 carrier status were not supported by strong statistical evidence for interaction. Conclusion: Type of coffee may play a role in the direction of the association between coffee-drinking habits and dementia later in life.

Kidney diseases are a global health problem, and their frequency is continuously increasing. Available treatments provide limited kidney protection. The protective effect of the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in several diseases have been extensively investigated. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties of EGCG are promising for the treatment and/or prevention of kidney diseases. This review analyzes the available evidence on the effects, and the likely protective mechanisms of action, of EGCG in a broad spectrum of kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury, drug-induced nephrotoxicity, kidney stone disease, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, and kidney fibrosis.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is receiving great attention due to its unique properties such as high purity, water retention capacity, high mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. However, the production of BC has been limited because of high cost and low productivity. In this light, the isolation of new BC producing bacteria and selection of high productive strains became a promising issue. Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage in which the bacteria fraction of the microbial community is composed mostly by strains belonging to the genus Komagataeibacter. In this study Kombucha tea production trials were performed starting from a previous batch, and bacterial isolation was conducted along cultivation time. From the whole microbial pool, 46 isolates were tested for their ability in producing BC. The obtained BC yield ranged from 0.59 g/L, for the isolate K2G36, to 23 g/L for K2G30 used as the reference strain. The genetic intraspecific diversity of the 46 isolates was investigated using two repetitive-sequence-based PCR typing methods, which are the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) elements and the (GTG)5 sequences, respectively. The results obtained using two different approaches revealed the suitability of the fingerprints techniques, showing a discrimination power, calculated as D index, of 0.94 for (GTG)5 rep-PCR and 0.95 for ERIC rep-PCR. In order to improve the sensitivity of the applied method, a combined model from the two genotyping experiments was performed, allowing to discriminate among strains.

This paper presents tea leaves moisture monitoring system based on RF reflectometry techniques. The system was divided into two parts which are the sensor and reflectometer parts. The large coaxial probe was used as a sensor of the system. The reflectometer part plays a role as signal generator and also data acquisition. The reflectometer-sensor system was operated with a graphical user interface at 1.529 GHz at room temperature. The system was able to measure the moisture content of tea leaves ranging 0% m.c to 50% m.c on a wet basis. In this study, up to five kinds of tea leaves bulk were tested. The mean of absolute errors in the moisture measurement for tea leaves was ±2.

Plants are affected by soil environments to the same extent they affect soil functioning through interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Here, five plant species (broad bean, pea, cabbage, fennel, and olive) grown under controlled pot conditions were tested for their ability to differently stimulate the degradation of standard litter. Litter, soil C and N contents and soil microbial abundance were measured. The architecture and morphological traits of roots systems were also evaluated by using specific open-source software (SmartRoot). Soil chemical and microbiological characteristics were significantly influenced by the plant species. Variations in soil C/N dynamics were correlated with the diversity of root traits among species. Early-stage decomposition of the standard litter changed on the basis of the plant species. The results indicated that key soil processes are governed by interactions between plant roots, soil C and N, and the microbial metabolism that stimulate decomposition reactions. This, in turn, can have marked effects on soil chemical and microbiological fertility, both fundamental for sustaining crops, and can promote the development of new approaches for optimizing soil C and N cycling, managing nutrient transport, and sustaining and improving net primary production.

Here we have chosen to highlight the main natural molecules extracted from camellia sinensis, andrographis paniculata and curcuma longa that may possess antioxidant activities of interest for skin protection. The molecules involved, in the antioxidant process are respectively catechins derivatives, in particular EGCG, andrographolide and its derivatives as well as various curcuminoids. These plants are generally used as beverages for camellia sinensis (tea tree), as dietary supplements or as spices. The molecules they contain are known for their diverse therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antidiabetic and dermatological treatment. Their common antioxidant activities and therapeutic applications are widely documented, but their use in cosmetic is more recent. In this review, we will endeavor to compile the cosmetic uses of these natural molecules of interest, the various structural modulations reported, with the aim of improving their bioavailability as well as establishing their different mechanisms of action.

Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms [Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826)] affected the a) soil bacterial community composition, b) litter decomposition, and c) plant growth (Brassica oleracea L., broccoli; Vicia faba L., faba bean). We performed a mesocosm experiment in which plants were grown outdoors for four months with or without earthworms. Soil bacterial community structure was evaluated by a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding approach. Litter decomposition rates were determined by using the tea bag index (TBI) and litter bags (olive residues). Earthworm number almost doubled throughout the experimental period. Independently of the plant species, earthworm presence had a significant impact on the structure of soil bacterial communities, in terms of enhanced α- and β-diversity (especially that of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobia) and increased 16S rRNA gene abundance (+89% in broccoli and +223% in faba bean). Microbial decomposition (TBI) was enhanced in the treatments with earthworms, and showed a significantly higher decomposition rate constant (kTBI) and a lower stabilization factor (STBI), whereas decomposition in the litter bags (dlitter) increased by about 6% in broccoli and 5% in faba bean. Earthworms significantly enhanced root growth (in terms of total length and fresh weight) of both the plant species. Our results show the strong influence of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil bacterial communities, litter decomposition and plant growth. These findings could be used for developing nature-based solutions that ensure the long-term biological sustainability of soil agro- and natural ecosystems.

Programming languages drive most if not all of modern problem- solving using computational methods and power. Research into new programming languages and methods is essential to the furthering or improvement of computational problem-solving by making the design, implementation, and application of automation to general or particu- lar problem-solving ever easier, more accessible, and more performant. General-purpose Programming Languages (GPLs) typically are designed to be purely domain agnostic—meaning they can be applied in any field, for any kind of problem. However, this typically also makes them hard and difficult to apply in problems where non-programmers or even ex- perts with little or no GPL programming skills are required to leverage programmatic problem solving capabilities, which is why Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) come into play; they are generally more fine-tuned to- wards improving human productivity and performance than that of the machine, while making solving particular, domain-oriented problems sim- pler. In this paper, we review the literature concerning how to design and then fully implement a new DSL, with special focus on a DSL for generic problem-solving leveraging Text Processing methods—essentially, a Text Processing Language (TPL). We consider leveraging the design research paradigm and philosophy as a systematic framework for guiding research into the development of new TPLs. This work presents for the first time, new unifying theory concerning general, but also TPL-specific language engineering theory and guiding frameworks—UPLT, PLEF & PLEf. We consider quantitative but also qualitative evaluation of programming lan- guages. The SOE framework is re-introduced for this purpose too. Finally, we set the pace for future theoretical and practical research into the field of programming language engineering especially with focus on TPLs.

Tea infusions are the most consumed beverages in the world after water, their pleasant yet peculiar flavor profile drives consumer choice and acceptance and becomes a fundamental benchmark for industry. Any qualification method capable of objectifying the product's sensory features effectively supports industrial quality control laboratories guaranteeing high sample throughputs even without the human panel intervention. The current study presents an integrated analytical strategy acting as an Artificial Intelligence decision tool for black tea infusion aroma and taste blueprinting. Key markers validated by sensomics are accurately quantified in a wide dynamic range of concentrations. Thirteen key aromas are quantitatively assessed by standard addition with in-solution solid-phase microextraction sampling followed by GC-MS. On the other hand, nineteen key taste and quality markers are quantified by external standard calibration and LV-UV/DAD. The large dynamic range of concentration for sensory markers is reflected in the selection of seven high-quality teas from different geographical areas (Ceylon, Darjeeling Testa Valley and Castleton, Assam, Yunnan, Azores, and Kenya). The strategy acts as an AI smelling and taste machine predicting teas sensory features without the human panel intervention.

Alzheimer’s disease manifests itself as a complex pathological condition with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction being a few of the many pathological changes. Due to the complexity of the disease current therapeutic strategies aim at a multitargeted approach often relying on a combination of sub-stances with versatile and complementary effects. In the present study, unique combination of α-lipoic acid, citicoline, extracts of leaves from olive tree and green tea, Vitamin D3, selenium and an immune supporting complex was tested in a scopolamine-induced dementia in rats. Using behavioral and biochemical methods we assessed the effects of this combination on learning and memory, and elucidated the mechanisms under-lying its effects. Our results showed that as compared to the components, experimental combination was most efficient in improving short- and long-term memory assessed by the step-through method as well as spatial memory, assessed by T-maze and Barnes maze underlying decrease in AChE activity and LPO, in-creases in SOD activity in cortex; activities of catalase and GPx, levels of BDNF and pCREB in the hippocam-pus. No significant histopathological changes or blood parameter changes were detected, making the experi-mental combination an effective and safe candidate in a multitargeted treatment of AD.

The most common liver disorder nowadays is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and it is a progressive disease that rises in severity from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis to increase risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a cause of great concern as there is an estimated seventy million Americans who are currently affected by NAFLD, and this is expected to only increase because of its association with obesity and diabetes and also a lack of therapies to keep its development and progression in check. In this particular study we performed a gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA) of differentially expressed genes in a green tea against methionine-choline deficient diet in high-fat patients in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). The downregulated genes were used to perform an enrichment analysis and in the ARCHS4 TFs Coexpression database the most significant gene was found to be KLF5_human_tf_ARCHS4_coexpression. In the ARCHS4 Kinases Coexpression pathway database STYK1_human_kinase_ARCHS4 Coexpression was found to be the most significant gene. And finally for the upregulated genes a similar enrichment analysis was performed and in the humancy database γ-linolenate biosynthesis_Homo sapiens_PWY-6000 gene was discovered to be the most significant one. This study has used bioinformatics tools and the Enrichr software to perform a comparative analysis of differentially expressed gene sets for high-fat patients having a diet consisting of green tea against a methionine-choline deficient diet. Green tea is known to contain several antioxidants and polyphenols which provide protection against many liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). The present study simply tries to build awareness of this to the general public and allow them to learn more about certain diets which have protective effects against liver diseases. Hopefully by implementing these in their daily lifestyles the public can gain some form of protection against these types of liver disorders.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Many types of tea prod-ucts continuously emerge in an endless stream; so, the classification or verification of tea be-comes more difficult. Aroma is a vital indicator of tea quality. The present study deals with the identification of aroma compounds in 18 different kinds of tea belonging to three typical tea va-rieties, including green tea, oolong tea, and black tea, using GC-IMS and GC×GC-O-MS. More-over, the clustering of all 18 tea samples and the in-depth correlation analysis between sensory evaluation and instrumental data were performed using the PCA and OPLS-DA. The results re-vealed that in all 18 kinds of tea, a total of 85 aroma compounds were detected by GC-IMS, whereas 318 were detected by GC×GC-O-MS. The PCA result revealed that green tea, oolong tea, and black tea could be clearly separated based on their peak areas. The OPLS-DA result showed that a total of 49 aroma compounds with VIP value > 1.0 could be considered as the potential in-dicators to quickly classify or verify tea types. This study not only compared the aroma differ-ences across different types of teas, but also provided ideas for the rapid monitoring of tea qual-ity and variety.