Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 123-133 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/jtsr 125 stress by enhancing antioxidant capacity, thereby improving insulin sensitivity and secretion, which in turn helps regulate blood glucose levels (Figure 1). Additionally, studies have found that even the waste products of mate tea retain high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, further emphasizing its strong antioxidant capacity (Gullón et al., 2018). Figure 1 In vitro glucose-stimulated insulin release in presence of phenolic compounds of Yerba mate (Adopted from Maiztegui et al., 2023) Image caption: The effects of Yerba Mate extract and its major phenolic components on insulin secretion in untreated rat islets under different glucose concentrations (3.3 mM and 16.7 mM). The results show that at high glucose concentration (16.7 mM), the addition of freeze-dried Yerba Mate extract, chlorogenic acid, rutin, caffeic acid, or quercetin significantly increased insulin secretion. This figure demonstrates that Yerba Mate and its phenolic components can significantly enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, indicating their potential application in improving insulin secretion and regulating blood glucose levels (Adapted from Maiztegui et al., 2023) 3.2 Cardiovascular health benefits Regular consumption of Yerba Mate has been linked to improved cardiovascular health. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Yerba Mate intake can significantly increase serum levels of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), an enzyme associated with antioxidant defense and cardiovascular protection (Balsan et al., 2019). Moreover, Yerba Mate consumption has been shown to reduce blood lipid concentrations, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, while also lowering blood pressure in both normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals (Sarriá et al., 2020). These findings suggest that Yerba Mate can play a protective role against atherosclerotic diseases and overall cardiovascular risk. 3.3 Effects on metabolism and weight management Yerba Mate has also been studied for its effects on metabolism and weight management. Ruskovska et al. (2022) found that consuming polyphenol-rich Yerba Mate extract may have cardiometabolic protective effects. In healthy middle-aged men who consumed standardized Yerba Mate extract for four weeks, significant changes in gene expression were observed, with 2,635 genes showing differential expression, including miRNA and lncRNA. Functional analysis indicated that these genes are involved in cell interaction and migration, inflammation, and cell signaling processes. The study suggests that Yerba Mate intake may promote cardiovascular health and potentially prevent metabolic diseases by modulating gene expression (Figure 2).
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