Description
Scientific Name(s): Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Common Name(s): Maté , chimarrao , erva-mate ,
Jesuit's tea , Paraguay tea , St. Bartholomew's tea , terere ,
yerba maté
Uses Maté has been traditionally used as a
caffeine- and vitamin-containing beverage for its stimulant,
diuretic, and depurative properties. Anticancer and
antiatherosclerosis effects, largely because of antioxidant action,
have also been suggested. Clinical trials are lacking.
Chemical Use: I. paraguariensis contains polyphenols and caffeoyl
derivatives, including caffetannin, that yield caffeic acid when
hydrolyzed, and chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, and isochlorogenic
acids. The polyphenol content, dependent on processing methods,
differs from that of green tea because it does not contain
catechins, yet has a high concentration of chlorgenic acid, which
is considered responsible for the antioxidant activity.
Uses and Pharmacology
Aside from the caffeine content, antioxidant action has been
responsible for the observed effects of maté consumption. Maté may
be a better source of antioxidants than green tea or red wine and
is also stronger than extracts from other Ilex species.
Peroxidase-like activity due to the polyphenol content (especially
chlorogenic and caffeic acid) has been demonstrated as well as
inhibition of oxidative and nitrosative stress in vitro in liver
and heart tissue. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and prevention
of peroxideinduced DNA damage in liver, kidney, and bladder tissues
have also been shown in vitro, and decreased advanced glycation
end-product formation in hyperglycemia models has been
demonstrated.
However, clinical evidence of a protective function suggested in
these in vitro studies is lacking. Atherosclerosis The lipolytic
effects of caffeine and the interference of saponins in cholesterol
absorption and metabolism may influence lipid profile and thereby
protect against atherosclerosis. Animal experiments have shown
inconsistent results in the effect of maté extracts on lipid
profile and serum glucose. In some studies, serum cholesterol and
triglycerides are reduced with maté consumption. Clinical trials
are lacking. Cancer Limited in vitro and animal experiments,
including the inhibition of oral carcinoma cell growth, suggest a
cancer protective effect of I. paraguariensis extracts. Proposed
mechanisms include inhibition of proteasome, topoisomerase,
aromatase, and reactive oxygen species, and antiangiogenic effects.
CNS Animal experiments suggest a nondopaminergic effect on induced
catalepsy and dyskinesia, possibly due to antagonism of adenosine.
Improvements in short-term memory have been demonstrated in
rodents, while a potential caffeine effect on the CNS has been
recognized.
