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In the future, arthritis relief may come from a cup of green tea.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School recently found that this beverage contains a compound that appears to reduce inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The compound called EGCG (epigallocatchin gallate) is being investigated as a treatment for RA. So far, results are encouraging.

The scientists presented their findings at Experimental Biology 2007, an annual gathering of several scientific societies that was held in Washington, D.C.

In their study, the researchers found that joint cells called synovial fibroblasts that were affected by RA improved after being treated with EGCG. Compared to the untreated fibroblasts, the treated ones had lower levels of inflammation, according to Dr. Salah-uddin Ahmed, one of the investigators.

'The EGCG-treated cells produced lower levels of two other inflammatory chemicals than cells that hadn't been treated with EGCG. In fact, the highest tested dose of EGCG virtually halted production of those inflammatory chemicals during the experiment. Further lab tests show that EGCG blocked a chemical chain reaction linked to inflammation and joint damage,' reported Miranda Hitti in WebMD Medical News.

"The results from this study suggest that EGCG may be of potential therapeutic value in regulating the joint destruction in RA," Ahmed said.

In addition to EGCG, Dr. David Buttle of the University of Sheffield in England said green tea also contains ECG (epicatechin gallate) that can help prevent osteoarthritis by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

"If you have fairly severe joint damage it may be too late to do anything about it, but if you spend decades of your life drinking green tea in the end it may be beneficial,' Buttle said.

However, researchers have yet to determine if drinking green tea produces the same effect as in being treated with EGCG directly and how much green tea is needed to achieve the desired results.

Earlier, Dr. Tariq Haqqi of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, found that antioxidants in green tea called polyphenols may reduce the incidence and severity of RA.

In his report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Haqqi said that mice that were given water mixed with green tea and later injected with a drug to induce RA were less susceptible to the disease. The amount of green tea consumed by the mice was equivalent to four cups a day.

'For the mice fed green tea which did however develop arthritis, it occurred as late onset and mild. Only 8 out of 18 mice receiving green tea polyphenols developed arthritis, while 17 out of 18 mice not receiving green tea polyphenols developed arthritis,' revealed Carol and Richard Eustice in 'Your Guide to Arthritis,' an online newsletter of About.com.

At present, green tea is consumed in many parts of the world, including India, China, and Japan where it is regarded as a health drink. Expect to hear more good news as scientists look further into the benefits of green tea.