Tea and Health

Dear Colleagues,

Tea, derived from the Camellia sinensis, is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally, second only to water. For centuries, it has been revered not only for its cultural significance and sensory appeal but also for its purported health benefits. Modern science has begun to unravel the complex interplay between the rich array of bioactive compounds in tea—such as catechins, L-theanine, theaflavins, and caffeine—and human health.

This Special Issue aims to compile high-quality, original research and comprehensive review articles that delve into the multifaceted relationship between tea consumption and health. We seek to advance our understanding from molecular interactions to population-level impacts, providing a platform for the latest discoveries and innovative methodologies in this dynamic field.

We invite submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

1. Bioactive Compounds and Metabolism:
   
   • Identification, characterization, and bioavailability of novel tea phytochemicals.
   • Biotransformation of tea compounds by the gut microbiota.
   • Synergistic or antagonistic interactions between different tea constituents.
2. Molecular Mechanisms of Action:
   • Elucidating signaling pathways (e.g., Nrf2, NF-κB, AMPK) modulated by tea compounds.
   • Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and autophagy-inducing properties at the cellular level.
   • Impact on gene expression, epigenetics, and non-coding RNAs.
3. Clinical and Epidemiological Evidence:
   • Interventional studies and randomized controlled trials on the health effects of tea.
   • Prospective cohort and case–control studies linking tea consumption to chronic disease risk.
   • Investigations into the role of tea in metabolic health (obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome), cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), and cancer prevention.
4. Novel Applications and Delivery Systems:
   • Development of tea-based functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
   • Nano-encapsulation and other technologies to improve the stability and bioavailability of tea bioactives.
   • Applications in cosmeceuticals and topical formulations.
5. Sustainability, Safety, and Interindividual Variability:
   • The influence of tea processing (green, black, white, oolong, pu-erh) on health-promoting properties.
   • Assessment of safety, optimal dosage, and potential adverse effects.
   • Understanding how genetics, gender, age, and lifestyle factors modulate the health effects of tea.

Prof. Dr. Mingzhe Yao
Prof. Dr. Kang Wei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.