Chinese sweet leaf

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Rubus suavissimus (Chinese sweet leaf) is a plant whose leaves are used to brew a sweetened tea, and it is currently thought to be a decent weight loss aid in part due to suppressing the formation of body fat and in part due to its sweetness helping with food cravings.

Chinese sweet leaf is most often used for

Summary

Rubus suavissimus is a plant in the raspberry family which contains a variety of natural sweeteners (the suaviosides) somewhat similar to the molecules in stevia, another naturally sweet plant. In part due to the sweetness aiding somebody psychologically on a diet, the potential suppressive effects on weight gain seen in rats suggests that this tea may have anti-obese properties; more research would be needed to see if there is any promise for this herb though.

Beyond that, the tea appears to be traditionally used to help with symptoms of sickness (usually to attenuate allergies, relieve cough, and increase mucus production and aid in its clearnace from the body). The claims on cough, fever, and mucus have not yet been evaluated and while there appear to be some preliminary evidence to support a reduction in allergies the one accessible human study has failed to find such an effect.

What else is Chinese sweet leaf known as?
Note that Chinese sweet leaf is also known as:
  • Chinese Sweet Leaf Tea
  • Ten-cha
  • Rubus Suavissimus
Chinese sweet leaf should not be confused with:
Examine Database: Chinese sweet leaf
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References
1.^Yonekura S, Okamoto Y, Yamasaki K, Horiguchi S, Hanazawa T, Matsune S, Kurono Y, Yamada T, Fujieda S, Okano M, Okubo KA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ten-cha (Rubus suavissimus) on house dust mite allergic rhinitisAuris Nasus Larynx.(2011 Oct)
2.^Koh GY, McCutcheon K, Zhang F, Liu D, Cartwright CA, Martin R, Yang P, Liu ZImprovement of obesity phenotype by Chinese sweet leaf tea (Rubus suavissimus) components in high-fat diet-induced obese ratsJ Agric Food Chem.(2011 Jan 12)
4.^Chou G, Xu SJ, Liu D, Koh GY, Zhang J, Liu ZQuantitative and fingerprint analyses of Chinese sweet tea plant ( Rubus suavissimus S. Lee)J Agric Food Chem.(2009 Feb 11)
6.^Sugimoto N, Sato K, Liu HM, Kikuchi H, Yamazaki T, Maitani TAnalysis of rubusoside and related compounds in tenryocha extract sweetenerShokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi.(2002 Aug)
7.^Ohtani K, Aikawa Y, Ishikawa H, Kasai R, Kitahata S, Mizutani K, Doi S, Nakaura M, Tanaka OFurther study on the 1,4-alpha-transglucosylation of rubusoside, a sweet steviol-bisglucoside from Rubus suavissimusAgric Biol Chem.(1991 Feb)
14.^Liu Z, Schwimer J, Liu D, Lewis J, Greenway FL, York DA, Woltering EAGallic acid is partially responsible for the antiangiogenic activities of Rubus leaf extractPhytother Res.(2006 Sep)
15.^Zhang X, Ye J, Wang L, Manosroi J, Shi X, Rojanasakul YRapid and sensitive assay of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene transcriptionPharm Res.(2001 Mar)
17.^Fang YG, Lu HW, Feng JH, Bao L, Kurihara HAnti-allergic effects of Rubus suavissimus extractZhong Yao Cai.(2008 May)
18.^Nakatani K, Atsumi M, Arakawa T, Oosawa K, Shimura S, Nakahata N, Ohizumi YInhibitions of histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by mangosteen, a Thai medicinal plantBiol Pharm Bull.(2002 Sep)