AUTHOR=Sheng Yue-Yue , Xiang Jing , Wang Ze-Shi , Jin Jing , Wang Ying-Qi , Li Qing-Sheng , Li Da , Fang Zhou-Tao , Lu Jian-Liang , Ye Jian-Hui , Liang Yue-Rong , Zheng Xin-Qiang 

TITLE=Theacrine From Camellia kucha and Its Health Beneficial Effects

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.596823

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2020.596823

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>Theacrine, i.e., 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid, is one of the major purine alkaloids found in leaf of a wild tea plant species <italic>Camellia kucha</italic> Hung T. Chang. Theacrine has been attracted great attentions academically owing to its diverse health benefits. Present review examines the advances in the research on the health beneficial effects of theacrine, including antioxidant effect, anti-inflammatory effect, locomotor activation and reducing fatigue effects, improving cognitive effect, hypnotic effect, ameliorating lipid metabolism and inhibiting breast cancer cell metastasis effect. The inconsistent results in this research field and further expectations were also discussed.</p>