ABSTRACT
The polyphenols of tea vary from green tea to black tea and widely depends on its processing pattern prior to drying. Tea contains a greater amount of polyphenols that can prevent oxidation. Tea polyphenols also inhibited the growth of influenza-A virus that brought about worldwide outbreak in human and animals. The inhibitory activity of tea polyphenols is in order of Theaflavin > procynadin B2 > procynadin B2 diagallate > (-)-epigallocatachingallate. Green tea polyphenols (GTPs) can also enhance the immunity thus preventing body from diseases like cancer by increasing humoral and cell-mediated immunity. GTPs showed protective action against the oral cancer. Several studies reported that GTPs especially epigallocatechin gallate provided protection against UV light and showed preventive action against UV induced skin cancer. The in vitro and in vivo studies on animals and human showed that GTPs have ability to prevent skin disorders including skin photo aging, skin cancer.
