A team of American and British researchers found that the component, called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), helps stop HIV from binding to immune system cells. This mechanism helps in slowing down the spread of HIV by beating the virus to the cells.
The researchers warned that the research is still at an early stage and should not be treated as cure to HIV or as a means to avoid it. They also added that green tea should be used in combination with other HIV treatments to improve quality of life for those infected.
The scientists are also conducting research to determine how much of an effect can be expected from different amounts of tea.
Sawf.com quotes Keith Alcorn, senior editor of the Aidsmap web service, as saying, "This study only looks at the ability of a chemical in green tea to block HIV binding to human CD4 immune cells in the test tube."
"Many substances shown to prevent HIV infection in the test tube turn out to have little or no effect in real life, so I think there's a long way to go before anyone should rely on green tea to protect against HIV infection," he added.
The study appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
