The white tea has really significant potential in fighting skin aging, but also in fighting cancer and inflammation, according to the findings of a very recent study.

Researchers at Kingston University in London, in collaboration with Neuraleseses Yard Remedies (a company that manufactures organic cosmetics in the UK) were truly breathless when they read the results that illustrated the power of white tea to inhibit the enzymes that attack collagen and elastin (collagenases and elastases), and its ability to mimic the action of one of the body's own antioxidant enzymes.

The study, published in the BioMed Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, tested 23 extracts from 21 plants, and found that white tea was the real star of the bunch.

The extracts were evaluated and tested for their anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activity, two enzymes that contribute to skin aging by reducing collagen and elastin. They were also tested for their phenolic content and antioxidant activity.

Tested for its SOD capabilities

The team led by Professor Declan Naughton of Kingston University also tested the ability of the extracts to mimic superoxide dismutase (SOD), a naturally occurring enzyme that neutralizes reactive and dangerous oxygen derivatives (DROs), such as oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (DROs are highly reactive chemical species capable of oxidizing proteins and DNA, and thus responsible for aging).

This SOD enzyme is an important part of the defense system against free radicals.

White tea showed the highest inhibitory activity against collagenase with a result of 87%, compared to green tea (47.17%), rose (40.96%), and lavender (31%).

The anti-elastase effect of white tea extract was more than 89%, again the highest result of all extracts evaluated.

Moreover, according to Professor Naughton, the concentration used in these experiments was significantly lower than that found in a cup of tea.

"The levels are far lower than what you would find in a cup of tea. With the white tea, we just had to keep diluting it because it was so strong.

White tea is far superior for its inhibitory activity

Considering the combined action of white tea extract on elastase and collagenase, white tea has an inhibitory activity of over 180%. The best other extracts tested came in at only 80%.

 "We were quite surprised by these results," says Professor Naughton.

In addition, white tea had the highest phenolic content (tested according to the Folin-Ciocalteu index) and the highest antioxidant capacity.

Five of the extracts showed good SOD mimetic activity (more than 70%), among which white tea with the highest result, 87.92%, followed closely by green tea (86.41%).

Although they belong to the same plant, green, white and black teas
appear to have very different health properties and benefits.

White tea comes from the buds of the plant. It is called white because of the silvery down that can be seen on the buds when the leaf is dried. It is neither transformed nor oxidized. Black tea, on the other hand, is picked later and has undergone enzymatic fermentation, probably diminishing its health benefits.

The results of this research are from in vitro tests and obviously need to be supplemented by animal and human studies. But according to Professor Naughton, the potential benefits of white tea extract can be used for many inflammatory-type diseases, such as cardiovascular problems, arthritis and cancer.

"I would love to see other researchers and scientists continue this work and do in vivo studies," he added.

In addition, white tea could treat obesity naturally by regulating fat storage, according to a study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism Journal and conducted by German researchers.

For all these reasons, add to your favorite anti-aging drinks