Yerba Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis): A Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Health Implications, and Technological Considerations

• Published in: Journal of food science 2007-11, Vol.72 (9), p.R138-R151
• Main Authors: Heck, C.I, de Mejia, E.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Beverages - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; chemical composition; cholesteremic effect; Coffee, tea and other stimulative beverage industries; dietary supplements; disease prevention; diuretics; DNA damage; Food Handling - methods; Food industries; Food science; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hepatoprotective effect; herbal tea; Humans; Ilex paraguariensis; Ilex paraguariensis - adverse effects; Ilex paraguariensis - chemistry; lipid peroxidation; literature reviews; low density lipoprotein; Mate tea; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Mutagens - adverse effects; neoplasms; Neoplasms - chemically induced; Neoplasms - prevention & control; nutraceutical industry; Nutrition; obesity; Obesity - prevention & control; Odorants; Plant Extracts - adverse effects; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - adverse effects; Plant Leaves - chemistry; stimulant plants; Taste; Tea; weight control; Yerba Mate
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00535.x

Yerba Mate tea, an infusion made from the leaves of the tree Ilex paraguariensis, is a widely consumed nonalcoholic beverage in South America which is gaining rapid introduction into the world market, either as tea itself or as ingredient in formulated foods or dietary supplements. The indigenous people have used it for centuries as a social and medicinal beverage. Yerba Mate has been shown to be hypocholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, central nervous system stimulant, diuretic, and to benefit the cardiovascular system. It has also been suggested for obesity management. Yerba Mate protects DNA from oxidation and in vitro low-density lipoprotein lipoperoxidation and has a high antioxidant capacity. It has also been reported that Yerba Mate tea is associated to both the prevention and the cause of some types of cancers. Yerba Mate has gained public attention outside of South America, namely the United States and Europe, and research on this tea has been expanding. This review presents the usage, chemistry, biological activities, health effects, and some technological considerations for processing of Yerba Mate tea. Furthermore, it assesses in a concise and comprehensive way the potential of Ilex paraguariensis as a source of biological compounds for the nutraceutical industry.