Botany
Tsa is a shrub, about a meter or more high. Branches are smooth. Buds are silky. Leaves are elliptic-oblong, 7.5 to 20 cm long, 3.5 to 6 cm wide, tapering at either end, with toothed margins. Flowers are white, about 3 cm in diamter. Fruit is leathery, 3-celled capsule, each cell containing a seed. Seeds are nearly spherical, obtusely angled, smooth, pale brown, about 2 cm in diameter.
Distribution
Introduced shortly before 1905.
Scattered growth in the Baguio area.
Constituents
Leaves contain caffeine (3.3%), tannin (12.9%), polyphenols, amino acids.
Properties
Natural scent of the tea is from a fragrant volatile oil.
Stimulant effect of the tea from the caffeine and theobromine and small amounts of alkaloids.
Considered astringent, cardiotonic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant.
Parts used
Leaves
Uses
Culinary
Edible: leave
Green tea made from steamed and dried leaves; black tea from fermented and dried leaves.
Tea extracts used for flavoring alcoholic beverages, dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, pastries and puddings.
Folkloric
Decoction of leaves used as stimulant and to relieve fatigue.
Used to soothe headaches, aid digestion.
Others
Essential oil from fermented and dried leaves used for perfumery and food flavoring.
Edible oil made from the seed.
Teaseed oil used in the manufacture of sanctuary or signal oil for burning purposes.
Dye: A source of varied food colors - black, green orange, yellow.
Wood: moderately hard, makes into a good walking stick.
Studies
• Antioxidant: Tea contains flavonoids with its beneficial antioxidant effects.
• Anti-Diabetic: Study on the water extract of Thea sinenesis suggest the antidiabetic activity is derived, at least in part, from a decrease in plasma insulin, due to decreased insulin resistance.
• Genital Warts: Polyphenon E®, a proprietary extract of green tea, has been approved in the U.S. for external topical use for genital warts caused by human papilloma virus.
• Cardiovascular Benefits: Early studies suggest that regular intake of green tea may help reduce the risk of heart attacks or atherosclerosis. Further clinical trials are needed before firm recommendations.
• Hypolipidemic: Anima studies and limited human research suggest benefits of green tea on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Lactose Intolerance: Study results suggest the lactose content of milk was reduced by adding tea extracts and suggests that with milk-related gastrointestinal problems have milk with herbal tea extracts.
• Saponins / Alcohol Absorption and Metabolism: Study showed the seed saponins of T sinensis seem to suppress alcohol absorption by slowing gastric emptying and inhibiting absorption across the cell membranes of the digestive tract.
• Effect on Drug Metabolizing Enzymes: Study on decaffeinated green tea is unlikely to alter the disposition of medications primarily dependent on the CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 pathways of metabolism.
• Antimicrobial: Study of extracts showed the highest % yield with chloroform bollowed by petroleum ether, methanol and diethyl ether. Organisms inhibited were P aeruginosa, B subtilis, S dysenteria, E coli, Yersinia, S typhi among others. Results indicate tea extracts have promising antibacterial activity, expecially for intestinal microorgaisms causing diarrhea and dysentery.
• Colds and Flu / T Cell Function: Study of a proprietary formulation of Camellia sinensis show it to be a safe and effective dietary supplement for preventing cold and flu symptoms and for enhanciing T cell function.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Extracts, capsules, ointments in the cybermarket. |
