Green tea has become a favorite drink of millions of people because aside from being a great antioxidant, it

is believed

to prevent and ease

a number of

illness

.

The "miracle herb" is believed beneficial to people with cardiovascular and cancer. And latest studies showed it may also help ease the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis .

Although it is still too early to conclude, the researchers were able to establish the effect of green tea on rheumatoid arthritis .

Lead researcher Salah-uddin Ahmed, an investigator at the University of Michigan Health System stressed that findings of the study, which was conducted in laboratory, are still preliminary .

The new research by Ahmed is one of the first to focus on rheumatoid arthritis and green tea and may be music to the ears of more than 2.1 million Americans suffering from the illness .

In the study, Ahmed added, cells called synovial fibroblasts were isolated from the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis . These cells structure a coating of tissue encompassing the container of the joints.

In patients with rheumatoid joint pain, this covering is aroused , prompting long haul joint harm and unending torment .

The team next cultured these cells and exposed them to epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the active ingredient in green tea . The cells were then stimulated with cytokine interleukin-1 beta or IL-1B, a protein of the immune system known to play a role in causing joint degradation in rheumatoid arthritis .

The scientists concentrated on whether EGCG had the capacity to hinder the action of two strong particles, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which likewise assume a job in separating bone in an RA joint .

After the experiment, the team found that the two molecules were suppressed by the EGCG. But while the researchers stressed it is difficult to quantify exactly the effect of the suppression, the EGCG blocked them significantly .

EGCG additionally obstructed the creation of prostaglandin E2, another aggravate that can cause joint irritation .

Non-conclusive

Even if the results of the study are not conclusive, the researchers said people might want to try drinking three or four 8-ounce cups of green tea per day . Drinking green tea continuously throughout the day keeps blood level more constant.

On the other hand , drinking green tea certainly wouldn't hurt, since it is known to have many health benefits and no known side effects .