Therapeutic Potential of Tea and Its Compounds in the Central Nervous System Disorders

Due to increasing prevalence and burden of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders and challenges associated with their treatment, there is ongoing search for new therapeutic targets, frequently conducted in the area of natural products. Tea (derived from Camellia sinensis) contains a wide range of bioactive compounds (polyphenols, alkaloids and amino acids) which positively affect general health and function of many systems, including CNS. The aim of this narrative review was to present up-to-date evidence of beneficial effects of tea and its compounds on CNS functions and to outline the most promising perspectives for their utility in management of neurological conditions. Based on extensive literature search, the authors demonstrate biochemical properties of tea-derived substances, molecular mechanisms of their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activity, as well as pathways of their specific impact on CNS. The evidence is presented from experimental and clinical studies investigating effects of tea and its compounds on the prevention or amelioration of neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease), multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease and brain tumors. Finally, limitations and barriers to these investigations are discussed and their emerging future directions are suggested.