Pharmacognostic studies on Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Abstract

Tea is a small evergreen tree, 16 m tall on an average, usually pruned back to shrubs in cultivation, distributed throughout Assam, Nilgiris, Western Ghats of India and Nagaland. Black tea is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and for the relief of neuralgic headaches. The Chinese use tea as an astringent remedy to clear phlegm, and as a digestive remedy. Research has demonstrated that the tannins in some green teas appear to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Japanese research suggests that oolong tea can reduce high blood pressure and help prevent arterial disease. A weak infusion of tea can be used as a cooling wash for sunburn and used teabags can be applied to tired eyes. Keeping these curative properties an attempt is made to standardise this plant pharmacognostically, hence this attempt.