5.1 Connections Between Chemical Profiles and Health Properties
59
possible addition of yerba mate extracts (chimarrão, tererê, and mate tea) to nonSouth American typical products or beverages such as soy beverages (Frizon et al.
2018) has been proposed. In fact, this plant has been often considered as a ‘carrier’
beverage for characteristic medicinal plants, while I. paraguariensis is not historically considered a medicinal plant. The fact that Paraguayans and Argentineans
consider yerba mate also as a medicinal remedy has to be highlighted. A good explanation is that chimarrão, tererê, and mate tea infusions can show a synergetic function
in association with other vegetable remedies (Arenas and Azorero 1977; Goyke 2017;
Kujawska 2018; Kujawska et al. 2017; Schmeda-Hirschmann and Bordas 1990). On
the other side, it has been reported in recent years that yerba mate consumption could
be a risk factor when speaking of oral tumours.
Finally, it has been sometimes reported that the notable yerba mate consumption
could be linked with increased risk of various tumours (Bates et al. 2007; Frizon
et al. 2018; Goldenberg et al. 2003; Heck and De Mejia 2007). It has been suggested
that a possible association exists when tobacco and/or alcohol act synergically with
yerba mate consumption. More research is still needed in this ambit (Aguilera 2015;
Deneo-Pellegrini et al. 2013; Stefani et al. 2011). With relation to safety and health
features of yerba mate, some of the most known factors are briefly explained in the
next sections.
5.2 General Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory
Features—Defence Against Oxidative Stress. Defence
Against Cardiovascular Diseases
Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are generally ascribed to polyphenols of vegetable origin, with concern to yerba mate and other plants. In this ambit,
polyphenols are certainly one of the most promising natural substances with similar
features (Barbera 2020; Barbieri et al. 2019; Bhagat et al. 2019; Delgado et al. 2016,
2019; Haddad et al. 2020a, b; Issaoui et al. 2020; Matta 2019; Parisi 2019, 2020;
Parisi and Dongo 2020; Parisi et al. 2020; Singla et al. 2019) because of their peculiar chemical structure and their function in oxidation and reduction reactions. For
these reasons, various properties ascribed to yerba mate (‘rejuvenation’… or skin
protection, defence against ageing in human beings, protection against retinal degeneration, etc.) are justified. In addition, the following features (normally important in
plants) should be considered in the human being:
(1) Colour enhancement
(2) Defence against ultraviolet rays
(3) Defence against toxic heavy metals by means of chelation effect.
In this ambit, polyphenols are able to enhance the performance of enzymatic systems and reactions relying on oxidation–reduction reactions by means
of peroxidase-like activity (it can block chemically reactive oxygen species). All
59
possible addition of yerba mate extracts (chimarrão, tererê, and mate tea) to nonSouth American typical products or beverages such as soy beverages (Frizon et al.
2018) has been proposed. In fact, this plant has been often considered as a ‘carrier’
beverage for characteristic medicinal plants, while I. paraguariensis is not historically considered a medicinal plant. The fact that Paraguayans and Argentineans
consider yerba mate also as a medicinal remedy has to be highlighted. A good explanation is that chimarrão, tererê, and mate tea infusions can show a synergetic function
in association with other vegetable remedies (Arenas and Azorero 1977; Goyke 2017;
Kujawska 2018; Kujawska et al. 2017; Schmeda-Hirschmann and Bordas 1990). On
the other side, it has been reported in recent years that yerba mate consumption could
be a risk factor when speaking of oral tumours.
Finally, it has been sometimes reported that the notable yerba mate consumption
could be linked with increased risk of various tumours (Bates et al. 2007; Frizon
et al. 2018; Goldenberg et al. 2003; Heck and De Mejia 2007). It has been suggested
that a possible association exists when tobacco and/or alcohol act synergically with
yerba mate consumption. More research is still needed in this ambit (Aguilera 2015;
Deneo-Pellegrini et al. 2013; Stefani et al. 2011). With relation to safety and health
features of yerba mate, some of the most known factors are briefly explained in the
next sections.
5.2 General Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory
Features—Defence Against Oxidative Stress. Defence
Against Cardiovascular Diseases
Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are generally ascribed to polyphenols of vegetable origin, with concern to yerba mate and other plants. In this ambit,
polyphenols are certainly one of the most promising natural substances with similar
features (Barbera 2020; Barbieri et al. 2019; Bhagat et al. 2019; Delgado et al. 2016,
2019; Haddad et al. 2020a, b; Issaoui et al. 2020; Matta 2019; Parisi 2019, 2020;
Parisi and Dongo 2020; Parisi et al. 2020; Singla et al. 2019) because of their peculiar chemical structure and their function in oxidation and reduction reactions. For
these reasons, various properties ascribed to yerba mate (‘rejuvenation’… or skin
protection, defence against ageing in human beings, protection against retinal degeneration, etc.) are justified. In addition, the following features (normally important in
plants) should be considered in the human being:
(1) Colour enhancement
(2) Defence against ultraviolet rays
(3) Defence against toxic heavy metals by means of chelation effect.
In this ambit, polyphenols are able to enhance the performance of enzymatic systems and reactions relying on oxidation–reduction reactions by means
of peroxidase-like activity (it can block chemically reactive oxygen species). All