MatchaDB

Research topic

Matcha antioxidants, catechins and EGCG: the research

Because the whole leaf is consumed, matcha is rich in catechins (EGCG above all), chlorophyll and other polyphenols. This is the largest topic in the library, spanning analytical chemistry, food science and cell and animal studies of antioxidant activity.

Many papers compare matcha with ordinary steeped green tea, measure how storage, light and temperature degrade catechins, or test matcha-enriched foods.

323

studies

1996–2026

years covered

206

from the last five years

212

free to read

What kind of evidence is this?

  • Other / not stated47
  • Animal study46
  • Chemical / analytical42
  • Review33
  • In vitro / cell study27
  • Observational (human)27
  • Food science / processing27
  • Randomized controlled trial24
  • Agronomy / cultivation17
  • Not classified (no abstract)12
  • Sensory / consumer9
  • Clinical trial (non-randomized)7
  • Systematic review / meta-analysis5

Lab antioxidant assays measure a compound's chemistry in a dish. They do not by themselves show a benefit in people.

Common keywords

green tea 107catechins 93antioxidant activity 86camellia sinensis 77epigallocatechin gallate 75caffeine 75polyphenols 67antioxidants 62theanine 57matcha tea 54oxidative stress 31catechin 28flavonoids 22tea polyphenols 21

Most recognized studies on this topic

Ranked by recency, citations, journal standing and study design.

2024Journal articleFree to read

Effect of matcha green tea on cognitive functions and sleep quality in older adults with cognitive decline: A randomized controlled study over 12 months.

Uchida K, Meno K, Korenaga T, et al. — PloS one

Objective: Lifestyle habits after middle age significantly impact the maintenance of cognitive function in older adults. Nutritional intake is closely related to lifestyle habits; therefore, nutrition is a pivotal factor in the prevention…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 25×
2020Journal articleFree to read

Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, et al. — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Japanese matcha is a type of powdered green tea, grown in a traditional way. Shading of the plants during the growth period enhances the processes of synthesis and accumulation of biologically active compounds, including theanine,…

ReviewCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 321×
2024Journal article

Comprehensive assessment of matcha qualities and visualization of constituents using hyperspectral imaging technology.

Hu Y, Yu H, Song X, et al. — Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Matcha, made from different tea leaves as raw material, exhibits diverse aromas and flavors. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a rapid, non-destructive method to assess the quality of matcha to ensure that these different…

Randomized controlled trialAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 17×
2023Journal article

Application of visible-near infrared spectroscopy in tandem with multivariate analysis for the rapid evaluation of matcha physicochemical indicators.

Wu J, Zareef M, Chen Q, et al. — Food chemistry

Consumer preference for matcha is heavily influenced by its physicochemical properties. The visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy technology coupled with multivariate analysis was investigated for rapid and non-invasive evaluation…

Observational (human)Metabolism and weightAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 56×
2024Journal articleFree to read

A comprehensive metabolomics analysis of volatile and non-volatile compounds in matcha processed from different tea varieties.

Huang D, Chen X, Tan R, et al. — Food chemistry: X

Tea varieties play a crucial role on the quality formation of matcha. This research aimed to examine the impact of four specific tea plant varieties (Okumidori, Longjing 43, Zhongcha108, and E'Cha 1) on various aspects of matcha, including…

Chemical / analyticalMetabolism and weightAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 38×
2025Journal article

Salivary levels of catalase, total antioxidant capacity and interleukin-1β and oral health-related quality of life after matcha and green tea consumption for patients with gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial.

Abdul-Wahab HY, Salah R, Abdulbaqi HR — International journal of dental hygiene

Objectives: To evaluate the changes in salivary levels of catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and IL-1β (primary outcomes) as well as gingival health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) 1 month after the…

Randomized controlled trialAntioxidants and polyphenolsSkin, oral and dentalProcessing, milling and qualityCited 6×
2023Journal article

A review on matcha: Chemical composition, health benefits, with insights on its quality control by applying chemometrics and multi-omics.

Phuah YQ, Chang SK, Ng WJ, et al. — Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

This review discussed the origin, manufacturing process, chemical composition, factors affecting quality and health benefits of matcha (Camellia sinensis), and the application of chemometrics and multi-omics in the science of matcha. The…

ReviewAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCultivation and shadingCited 39×
2019Journal article

Evaluation of matcha tea quality index using portable NIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometric algorithms.

Wang J, Zareef M, He P, et al. — Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Abstract BACKGROUND The study reports a portable near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy system coupled with chemometric algorithms for prediction of tea polyphenols and amino acids in order to index matcha tea quality. RESULTS Spectral data were…

Randomized controlled trialAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 114×
2024Journal articleFree to read

Green Packaging Films with Antioxidant Activity Based on Pectin and Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract.

Dobrucka R, Pawlik M, Szymański M — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

In the packaging materials sector, increasing globalization has created the need for increased efforts to develop consumer protection measures. Consequently, new packaging materials are being sought to replace petroleum-based materials in…

Observational (human)Antioxidants and polyphenolsCognition, mood and stressFood products and applicationsCited 23×
2024Journal articleFree to read

Matcha Does Not Affect Electroencephalography during Sleep but May Enhance Mental Well-Being: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Baba Y, Takihara T, Okamura N — Nutrients

Although theanine in matcha improves sleep quality and cognitive function, the caffeine in green tea is thought to worsen sleep quality. Therefore, this study investigated the factors behind the observed improvements in subjective sleep…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 8×
Search all 323 studies on this topic

Newest research

2026Journal articleFree to read

A CE/TA-stratified systematic review and evidence map of matcha and green tea bioactives in endocrine stress regulation: testosterone, cortisol, and the T:C ratio.

Alanazi A, Alanzi R, Abdo AAA — Frontiers in nutrition

Matcha and green-tea bioactives are widely promoted for stress and hormonal health, yet the evidence is fragmented across chemically dissimilar preparations (whole-leaf matcha, brewed green tea, isolated L-theanine, and concentrated…

Systematic review / meta-analysisCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeine
2026Journal articleFree to read

A Matcha Tea Formulation Containing Lachancea thermotolerans: Phytochemical Profile After In Vitro Digestion and Effects on Intestinal Epithelial Function.

Rucci C, Feliziani G, Agarbati A, et al. — Nutrients

Background/objectives: Matcha tea is widely recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its health-promoting benefits depend on the gastrointestinal bioaccessibility of its phytochemicals. This study evaluated…

In vitro / cell studyAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineGut and microbiome
2026Journal articleFree to read

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of tea and mate extracts

Kadrin Meremäe, Piret Raudsepp, Linda Rusalepp, et al. — EMU DSpace

Consumers are increasingly interested in natural, plant-based additives as alternatives to synthetic compounds in food products. This study investigated the polyphenolic profiles, total polyphenol content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity…

Observational (human)Antioxidants and polyphenolsInflammation and immunityProcessing, milling and quality
2026Journal article

Anxiolytic-like effects using adult zebrafish, bioaccessibility and phenolic profile of matcha and sugarcane beverages.

Tavares TRP, De Menezes FL, De Brito Araújo AJ, et al. — Nutritional neuroscience

Background: This work presents the development of functional beverages for brain health support formulated with matcha, sugarcane juice, and medicinal plants chamomile (CT) and lemon balm (LB) tea extracts. Methods: For this, the…

Animal studyCognition, mood and stressSkin, oral and dentalFood products and applications

Related topics

Processing, milling and qualityStudies on how tencha is steamed, dried and stone-milled, how particle size and storage affect color, flavor and nutrients, and how matcha quality is graded.Inflammation and immunityCell, animal and human studies on matcha's effects on inflammation markers and immune function.CancerLaboratory, animal and epidemiological studies that examine matcha and green tea compounds in cancer cells and cancer risk.

This page describes what published studies examine; it is not medical advice, and a study being listed is not an endorsement of its findings. Topic tags and study types are assigned automatically from each paper's text (see how the library is built). Library last rebuilt October 20, 2026.