Vitabiotics
Ingredients
Green tea extract
Camellia sinensis leaf extract · Camellia sinensis extract · Green tea leaf extract · EGCG
Green tea extract is a concentrated preparation of naturally occurring constituents from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, typically obtained with water, ethanol, or mixed solvents and then supplied as a dry powder or a standardised liquid. In food supplements it is commonly presented as an extract standardised to polyphenols/catechins, with particular focus on (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and it may be decaffeinated or retain part of tea’s naturally occurring caffeine. Composition varies with plant material, processing and extraction ratio, so labels may declare percentages of catechins, EGCG or total polyphenols. In cosmetics it is used as a botanical raw material under the INCI name Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, often delivered in aqueous, glycerinic or hydro-glycolic bases and incorporated into serums, creams, toners and masks. It may also appear as “green tea water” or as catechin-enriched fractions depending on the formulation approach. Although it comes from the same plant used for green, white, oolong and black tea, the extract’s profile is defined by the chosen extraction and standardisation.
Approved claims
Approved claims
No approved claims yet.
Safety notes
EFSA has not set a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for green tea extract or its catechins; in its 2018 assessment, EFSA concluded that EGCG from green tea extracts in supplements at around 800 mg/day or above has been associated with elevations of liver transaminases in intervention studies. In the EU, the addition of EGCG from green tea extracts to foods at levels of 800 mg or more per daily portion is prohibited under rules for restricted substances. Green tea extract may interact with products that affect liver function or with certain medicines; consult a doctor before use. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children should consult a doctor before use.
Products containing it
