Mate Tea: From the Camp to the Bench

Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil., popularly known as yerba mate, is a plant cultivated in some countries of South America. The leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are used to prepare beverages that are much appreciated for their characteristic bitter flavor, such as chimarrao, terere and toasted mate tea. In southern Brazil, chimarrao and mate tea are the most popular drinks and their consumption is considered a form of social interaction. Yerba mate contains many bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, saponins, xanthines, minerals and vitamins. Several studies have indicated that these compounds have positive effects on hypercholesterolemia and kidney diseases; they are also stimulators of the central nervous system, act as vasodilators and antioxidants, and are protective of the cardiovascular system.