According to scientists from London’s Kingston University, white tea, witch hazel and the simple rose hold potential health and beauty properties. The research suggests that these natural substances may offer the hope of new treatments to block the progression of inflammation.
The new study builds on work undertaken by Professor Naughton and Kingston University PhD student Tamsyn Thring. They tested 21 plant extracts for evidence of their efficiency in fighting cancer and also in the battle against aging. Of the 21 extracts, three — white tea, witch hazel and rose — showed considerable potential, with white tea displaying the most marked results. “Indeed it appeared that drinking a simple cup of white tea might well help reduce an individual’s risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles,” Professor Naughton said.
Spurred on by their laboratory findings, the team members decided to take the work further to see if they could replicate the results in human skin cells, looking more closely at the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of the three extracts. The experts were astonished to see just how good the various concentrations of the three extracts were at blocking the progress of inflammation.
Source: Journal of Inflammation
