Researchers at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) has proven that the material contained in a white tea was effective to enhance immune function in skin cells and protect from the effects of damage caused by sunlight. The findings show that white tea extract protects skin from stress and cell damage adds an important element in the fight against skin cancer.
Elma Baron, MD, director of the study center at UHC and CWRU skin. Saying that “We found that the use of white tea extract protects critical elements in the immune system in skin. Just like the process of oxidation that can cause rust on the car, stress on the skin can cause damage to the power and function of cells. White tea extract protects against stress. This study then demonstrates how the products of the plant to protect the skin. “Dr.Baron worked with Seth Stevens, MD, a partner in this study.
As part of the study, researchers put a white tea extract cream to one of the buttocks of volunteers (skin rarely / never exposed to sunlight), while other parts are not given a cream. Both parts are then exposed by artificial sunlight. The researchers then gave cream again on the previous section have been given. Three days later, the researchers compared the existing cells in the skin.
Here is the result: the immune system, cells Langerhan section outer skin (epidermis) is the most outer part which can reach the immune system, and is the first that can recognize something foreign. They are called guard cells, and its function is very important to detect the germs / bacteria and generated protein memutasi cancer cells, but, because of its location, Langerhan cells are very sensitive to the damage caused by sunlight. The penelitidalam this study found that white tea extract helps protect against the loss and Langerhan cells in the skin that is not given the extract and exposed to artificial sunlight. The researchers then examine if the immune system will be maintained on the skin cells that were given white tea extract is still functioning well after being exposed to artificial sunlight, they found that his immune function works fine because the extract. They also found that DNA damage that occur in cells after exposure to artificial sunlight is very little in the skin that is protected by white tea extract.
The researchers believe that antioxidants in the extracts of white tea is the reason why the extract was effective; besides it also has the benefits of antiaging antioxidants. The same process on stress in skin cells can also cause damage to the immune system, but it also can also cause skin cancer and damage to the skin surface, such as wrinkles or spots caused by skin pigmentation.
Kevin Cooper, MD, is director of the department of dermatology at UHC and CWRU. “We know that the skin at a young age people are more resistant to stress associated with exposure to the sun which has destructive properties. Extracts of white tea is useful to generate resistance in the skin to fight the stress that can cause aging of the skin.”
The results of the research offers a promise in the fight against skin cancer. Type of cancer the most suffered by citizens of the United States with more than 1 million new cases detected each year.
Study Center at UHC and CWRU skin has learned that another advantage of tea is that tea has a protective effect. The researchers found that the material contained in a white tea can reduce the bad effects of direct sunlight. This latest study is the first involving white tea. White tea contains more antioxidants than any type of tea, but white tea is tea that has the least of all types of tea and is rarely consumed by people.
