The Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea

Can Sipping This Fragrant Drink Have Medicinal Benefits?

Apr 27, 2009 Kristie Leong

Sipping jasmine tea may be more than just a thirst quencher. It appears this natural tea may have significant health benefits.

Sipping a warm cup of jasmine tea may do more than titillate the taste buds. It appears that the leaves from this flower may have disease preventive properties ranging from cancer prevention to lowering elevated cholesterol levels. Although larger studies are needed to confirm these benefits, the possibilities are intriguing. What are the health benefits of jasmine tea?

Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea: Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Several studies in animals have demonstrated the ability of jasmine to slow down the growth of cancer cells. One study carried out in rats showed a chemoprotective effect for breast tumors, while another showed benefits against prostate cancer. In fact, Israeli researchers have developed an anti-cancer drug using Jasmonate, a component from the jasmine plant, that’s believed to protect the plant against injury. The researchers discovered this new, natural drug derived from the jasmine plant can inhibit the action of a certain enzyme known as hexokinase that allows cancer cells to grow and prosper. They’re hoping that one day this drug derived from the jasmine plant will be used alongside other cancer chemotherapy drugs to help them work more efficiently. Such is the power of the incredible jasmine plant.

Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea: Anxiety Relief

A study carried out in Japan showed that the smell of jasmine tea had a calming, sedative-like effect on a group of twenty-four volunteers. When the volunteers were allowed to smell the odor of jasmine tea, their heart rates dropped and they became more calm and relaxed. A cup of jasmine tea could offer significant advantages over traditional anti-anxiety medications.

Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea: Lower Cholesterol

A study conducted on hamsters showed that green tea catechins extracted from jasmine green tea lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hamsters when the animals were given a high fat diet. Although more studies are needed to confirm that this effect holds true in humans, jasmine green tea could hold health benefits for those who eat a fatty diet.

Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea: Anti-bacterial Properties

In a study carried out at Kansas State University, it was shown that jasmine tea has the ability to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause food borne illness such as Salmonella and Listeria. This may have applications in the food industry where natural means of killing bacteria that cause food poisoning are needed.

Will larger studies confirm the benefits of jasmine tea? The future appears promising.

References:

Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Dec;19(6):687-93

European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2005, vol. 95, no2-3, pp. 107-114 [8 page(s) (article)] (41 ref.)

Journal of Food Protection. Antibacterial effect of water-soluble tea extracts on foodborne pathogens in laboratory medium and in a food model. Kim, S., Ruengwilysup, C., Fung, D.Y.C.

The copyright of the article The Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea in Natural Medicine is owned by Kristie Leong. Permission to republish The Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.