ilex latifolia

Ilex latifolia is an evergreen tree native to East Asia and widely known as "kudingcha" or "Da Ye Dong Qing" in China. The leaves are traditionally used to make a bitter herbal tea consumed for its health benefits. Extracts from the plant are rich in polyphenols (including phenolic acids and triterpenoids), flavonoids, saponins, and other bioactive compounds. These constituents have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, neuroprotective (notably against amyloid β-induced memory impairment), and anti-ischemic activities in preclinical studies. Mechanistically, these effects are attributed to direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (such as glutathione), inhibition of tau phosphorylation relevant to Alzheimer's disease pathology, modulation of apoptosis-associated proteins in neurons under stress conditions (e.g., Aβ toxicity), suppression of SREBP expression via AMPK activation for metabolic benefits such as amelioration of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models[2][4][5].

Brand names

kudingcha

Other names

Da Ye Dong QingIlex macrophyllaIlex tarajoChinese bitter tea