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theanine

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Description

theanine: RN given refers to (L)-isomer; precursor of ethylamine; found in green tea [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

N(5)-ethyl-L-glutamine : A N(5)-alkylglutamine where the alkyl group is ethyl. It has been isolated from green tea. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID439378
CHEMBL ID3039113
CHEBI ID17394
SCHEMBL ID190716
MeSH IDM0086236

Synonyms (83)

Synonym
CHEBI:17394 ,
(2s)-2-amino-5-(ethylamino)-5-oxopentanoic acid
n(5)-ethyl-l-glutamine
nsc-21308
SDCCGMLS-0066811.P001
BSPBIO_002633
SPECTRUM4_001984
NCGC00178565-01
SPECTRUM5_000897
n5-ethyl-l-glutamine
C01047
l-theanine ,
3081-61-6
KBIOGR_002514
KBIO3_002133
SPECTRUM2_001693
SPBIO_001646
SPECTRUM3_001137
SPECTRUM1505254
n-ethyl-l-glutamine
theanin
suntheanine
nsc 21308
einecs 221-379-0
theanine
ccris 7326
glutamine, n-gamma-ethyl-
C6B5A580-D410-4464-ADB8-543860137D4C
n-gamma-ethyl-l-glutamine
l-gamma-glutamylethylamide
T0954
CHEMBL3039113
(2s)-2-azanyl-5-(ethylamino)-5-oxidanylidene-pentanoic acid
A820634
hsdb 8166
8021pr16qo ,
unii-8021pr16qo
S3852
c7h14n2o3
CCG-38778
theanine [inci]
theanine [vandf]
l-theanine [usp-rs]
theanine, l-
theanine [who-dd]
theanine [mi]
(s)-2-amino-5-(ethylamino)-5-oxopentanoic acid
AM82649
SCHEMBL190716
AKOS016842508
Q-201330
l-theanine (ngamma-ethyl-l-glutamine)
l-glutamine, n-ethyl-
glutamine, n-ethyl-, l-
HB0612
AC-23939
n?-ethyl-l-glutamine
l-glutamic acid ?-(ethylamide)
DTXSID80184817 ,
l-theanine, united states pharmacopeia (usp) reference standard
sr-05000002409
SR-05000002409-1
(2s)-2-amino-5-(ethylamino)-5-oxopentanoicacid
l-theanine, >=98% (hplc)
(+)-theanine
DB12444
AS-12265
l-theamine
BCP28252
Q909931
h-glu(nhet)-oh
CS-0003777
HY-15121
l-glutamic acid g-(ethylamide)
n-ethyl l-glutamine
l-glutamic acid -ethyl amide;n-ethyl-l-glutamine
l-glutamic acid-gamma-ethylamide
l-glutamic acid gamma-
dtxcid20107308
l-theanine (usp-rs)
(2s)-2-amino-4-(ethylcarbamoyl)butanoic acid
EN300-1168664
Z1741979091

Research Excerpts

Overview

L-Theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid found in green tea, which has been identified as a safe dietary supplement. L-theanine (LTA) is a biologically active ingredient in tea that shows great potential for regulating lipid me.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"L-Theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid found in green tea, which has been identified as a safe dietary supplement. "( L-Theanine inhibits melanoma cell growth and migration via regulating expression of the clock gene BMAL1.
Guo, Z; Luo, L; Wang, Y; Yang, G; Yin, Z; Zhang, R; Zheng, S, 2022
)
2.16
"L-theanine is a nonprotein amino acid found in tea leaves and has been widely used as a safe food additive in beverages or foods because of its varied bioactivities. "( Protective Effects of L-Theanine on IPEC-J2 Cells Growth Inhibition Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium via p53 Signaling Pathway.
He, X; Li, Z; Ma, M; Song, Z; Zhang, H; Zhang, L, 2021
)
1.65
"Theanine is a unique major amino acid in tea plants responsible for umami taste and mental health benefits of tea. "( Characterization of
Chang, M; Chen, Q; Li, P; Li, Y; Li, Z; Liu, L; Peng, A; She, G; Shi, C; Sun, J; Wan, X; Yu, S; Zhao, J, 2022
)
2.16
"Theanine is an important quality parameter referring to tea quality. "( K-solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus) promote theanine synthesis in tea roots (Camellia sinensis) by activating CsTSI activity.
Chang, N; Jiang, H; Li, Y; Lv, Y; Wan, X; Yao, C; Zhang, X; Zhou, Z, 2022
)
2.43
"L-theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid critical for the flavor and potential health benefits of tea products; however, its biological function in tea plants is not well understood."( L-theanine exuded from Camellia sinensis roots regulates element cycling in soil by shaping the rhizosphere microbiome assembly.
Chen, Z; Feng, X; Luo, Y; Wang, M; Wang, Y; Xie, H; Xu, P, 2022
)
2
"Theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid, including two forms: D-theanine and L-theanine. "( Immune-boosting role of L-theanine in broiler poultry production under stress conditions.
Qui, NH,
)
1.87
"l-Theanine is an amino acid analogue of glutamate, whereas tea (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is similar to dopamine in avidly undergoing oxidation."( l-Theanine Inhibits (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Oxidation via Chelating Copper.
Jia, L; Li, X; Wang, D; Wang, F; Wang, X; Zhang, J; Zhang, K, 2022
)
2
"l-Theanine (LTA) is a biologically active ingredient in tea that shows great potential for regulating lipid metabolism. "( L-Theanine regulates lipid metabolism by modulating gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.
Gong, Z; Kong, Y; Xiao, W; Xu, W; Zhang, T, 2023
)
2.35
"Theanine is a unique amino acid found in green tea and could confer beneficial effects on cell protection."( Adipose stem cells preincubated with theanine exert liver regeneration through increase of stem cell paracrine VEGF and suppression of ROS, pyroptosis as well as autophagy markers in liver damage induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine.
Chen, TS; Chien, CT; Lai, YA; Lai, YJ, 2022
)
1.72
"L-theanine is a non-protein-forming amino acid found in tea. "( Dose-response effect of L-theanine on psychomotor speed, sustained attention, and inhibitory control: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
Dassanayake, TL; Kahathuduwa, CN; Weerasinghe, VS; Wijesundara, D, 2023
)
1.93
"l-Theanine (LTA) is a non-protein amino acid that contributes to the flavor of tea and can regulate protein metabolism of healthy organisms. "( L-Theanine Mitigates the Harmful Effects of Excess High-Protein Diet in Rats by Regulating Protein Metabolism.
Gong, Z; He, L; Li, L; Lin, L; Song, Y; Xiao, W; Zhang, J, 2023
)
2.35
"L-theanine (LTA) is a structural analog of glutamine and a characteristic non-protein amino acid found in tea ("( L-Theanine Regulates the Abundance of Amino Acid Transporters in Mice Duodenum and Jejunum via the mTOR Signaling Pathway.
Gong, Z; Li, Y; Lin, L; Liu, K; Peng, Y; Xiao, W, 2022
)
2
"Theanine is an important secondary metabolite endowing tea with umami taste and health effects. "( γ-Glutamyl-transpeptidase CsGGT2 functions as light-activated theanine hydrolase in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.).
Chang, M; Chen, Q; Liu, L; Ma, J; Sun, J; Sun, Y; Tian, L; Wan, X; Zhang, Z, 2023
)
2.59
"L-Theanine is a multifunctional nonprotein amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. "( Redesign of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase from Bacillus subtilis for high-level production of L-theanine by cavity topology engineering.
Deng, Y; Long, M; Osire, T; Wang, Q; Xia, X; Zhang, Z; Zheng, N, 2023
)
1.85
"Theanine is a distinctive amino acid in tea that plays a vital role in tea flavor during the roasting process. "( Contribution of theanine to the temperature-induced changes in aroma profile of Wuyi rock tea.
Bi, H; Ho, CT; Jiang, J; Li, M; Wan, X; Wang, H; Wang, J; Xue, M; Yu, J; Zhai, X; Zhang, L; Zhuo, Q, 2023
)
2.7
"L-theanine is a natural bioactive component in tea leaves and has anti-inflammatory effects. "( L-theanine attenuates porcine intestinal tight junction damage induced by LPS via p38 MAPK/NLRP3 signaling in IPEC-J2 cells.
Chen, X; Huang, Z; Jia, G; Liu, G; Luo, D; Zhao, H, 2023
)
2.35
"Theanine is an amino acid abundant in green tea with an amide moiety analogous to glutamine (GLN) rather than glutamic acid (Glu) and GABA, which are both well-known as amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain. "( Selective Upregulation by Theanine of Slc38a1 Expression in Neural Stem Cell for Brain Wellness.
Kawada, K; Kuramoto, N; Yoneda, Y, 2020
)
2.3
"l-Theanine is an important component found in tea and has positive effects on nutrient absorption and transport. "( l-Theanine regulates glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism via insulin and AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.
Chen, J; Gong, Z; Li, Y; Lin, L; Liu, A; Peng, Y; Xiao, W; Yuan, D; Zeng, L; Zhang, S, 2020
)
2
"Theanine is a derivative of glutamine and a natural component of green tea."( Possibility that the Onset of Autism Spectrum Disorder is Induced by Failure of the Glutamine-Glutamate Cycle.
Kawada, K; Kuramoto, N; Mimori, S, 2021
)
1.34
"l-Theanine is a specialized metabolite in the tea (Camellia sinensis) plant which can constitute over 50% of the total amino acids. "( Nonaqueous fractionation and overexpression of fluorescent-tagged enzymes reveals the subcellular sites of L-theanine biosynthesis in tea.
Cheng, S; Fu, X; Grierson, D; Liao, Y; Xu, X; Yang, Z, 2021
)
1.56
"Theanine (thea) is a unique non-protein amino acid in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and one of the most important small molecular compounds for tea quality and health effects. "( Time-series transcriptomic analysis reveals novel gene modules that control theanine biosynthesis in tea plant (Camellia sinensis).
Cao, H; Chen, Q; Chen, Y; Du, J; Fang, C; He, X; Ho, CT; Ma, Y; Wan, X; Zhang, R; Zhang, S, 2020
)
2.23
"L-theanine is an exclusive taste ingredient of tea producing an attractive flavor and aroma in tea."( L-theanine: an astounding sui generis amino acid in poultry nutrition.
Abd El-Hack, ME; Alagawany, M; Chao, S; Hussain, M; Kamboh, AA; Khafaga, AF; Khan, MS; Noreldin, AE; Qumar, M; Saeed, M; Safdar, M, 2020
)
1.84
"l-Theanine is an amino acid analog of l-glutamate and l-glutamine derived from various plant sources, including green tea leaves."( l-Theanine Prevents Long-Term Affective and Cognitive Side Effects of Adolescent Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure and Blocks Associated Molecular and Neuronal Abnormalities in the Mesocorticolimbic Circuitry.
De Felice, M; Hudson, R; Laviolette, SR; Pereira, BJ; Renard, J; Rushlow, WJ; Schmid, S; Szkudlarek, HJ, 2021
)
1.9
"l-Theanine is a nonproteinogenic amino acid present almost exclusively in tea plants and is beneficial for human health. "( Production of l-Theanine by Escherichia coli in the Absence of Supplemental Ethylamine.
Endo, H; Hagihara, R; Hayashi, M; Ohno, S; Tabata, K, 2021
)
1.69
"l-Theanine is a nonprotein amino acid with much beneficial efficacy. "( l-Theanine Activates the Browning of White Adipose Tissue Through the AMPK/α-Ketoglutarate/Prdm16 Axis and Ameliorates Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.
Guo, L; Guo, YY; Li, BY; Peng, WQ; Tang, QQ; Xiao, G, 2021
)
2.06
"l-Theanine is a characteristic amino acid in tea with various effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. "( L-Theanine regulates glutamine metabolism and immune function by binding to cannabinoid receptor 1.
Gong, Z; Lin, L; Liu, A; Liu, Z; Xiao, W; Xu, W, 2021
)
2.06
"l-Theanine is an active constituent of green tea which prevents neuronal loss, mitochondrial failure and improves dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin levels and in the central nervous system (CNS) via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuromodulatory properties."( l-Theanine ameliorates motor deficit, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurodegeneration against chronic tramadol induced rats model of Parkinson's disease.
Gupta, GD; Raj, K; Singh, S, 2022
)
2
"Theanine is a non-dietary amino acid linked to the modulation of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, although the acute effects of theanine in vivo, particularly on nociceptive transmission in the trigeminal system, remain to be determined. "( Acute intravenous administration of dietary constituent theanine suppresses noxious neuronal transmission of trigeminal spinal nucleus caudalis in rats.
Kubota, Y; Shimazu, Y; Takeda, M; Takehana, S; Uotsu, N; Yui, K, 2017
)
2.14
"L-Theanine is a nonprotein amino acid in tea, and its immunomodulatory function has been confirmed. "( Alteration of Mevalonate Pathway in Rat Splenic Lymphocytes: Possible Role in Cytokines Secretion Regulated by L-Theanine.
Li, C; Tan, Z; Tang, S; Xiao, W; Yan, Q, 2018
)
1.41
"l-theanine is a unique nonproteinogenic amino acid found in tea, and has recently received considerable attention because of its various biological activities. "( Effect of l-theanine on the growth performance, immune function, and jejunum morphology and antioxidant status of ducks.
Chen, KK; Geng, ZY; Wang, C; Zhang, C; Zhao, XH, 2019
)
1.61
"l-Theanine is a specialized metabolite in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves that contributes to tea function and quality. "( Differential accumulation of specialized metabolite l-theanine in green and albino-induced yellow tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves.
Cheng, S; Fu, X; Lai, J; Li, J; Liao, Y; Tang, J; Xu, X; Yang, Z; Zeng, L, 2019
)
1.48
"L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid derived most-commonly from tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, which may be beneficial in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disturbance as suggested by preliminary evidence."( L-theanine in the adjunctive treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
Birling, Y; Byrne, GJ; Cribb, L; Ee, C; Galea, S; Karamacoska, D; Macdonald, P; Menon, R; Murphy, J; Nazareth, S; Ng, CH; Oliver, G; Sarris, J; Short, A, 2019
)
1.79
"Theanine is an analog of glutamate and the major aminoacid in green tea. "( [Neurobiological effects of theanine and its possible use in neurology and psychiatry].
Katasonov, AB,
)
1.87
"l-Theanine (l-THE) is a nonproteinogenic amino acid derived from green tea (Camellia sinensis), which exhibits strong antioxidant-like properties and contributes to the favourable umami taste sensation. "( The beneficial health effects of green tea amino acid l-theanine in animal models: Promises and prospects for human trials.
Georgousopoulou, EN; McKune, AJ; Mellor, DD; Naumovski, N; Sergi, D; Williams, J, 2019
)
1.48
"L-Theanine is a unique amino acid present in green tea. "( L-Theanine elicits umami taste via the T1R1 + T1R3 umami taste receptor.
Hayashi, Y; Misaka, T; Nakagita, T; Narukawa, M; Toda, Y, 2014
)
1.85
"L-Theanine is an amino acid derivative primarily found in tea. "( Protective effect of L-Theanine against aluminium induced neurotoxicity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of rat brain - histopathological, and biochemical approach.
Shobana, C; Sumathi, T; Thangarajeswari, M; Usha, R, 2015
)
1.45
"L-Theanine is a unique non-protein-forming amino acid present in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. "( L-Theanine healed NSAID-induced gastric ulcer by modulating pro/antioxidant balance in gastric ulcer margin.
Bandyopadhyay, SK; Bera, B; Chatterjee, A; Chatterjee, S; Roy, S, 2014
)
1.85
"L-Theanine is an amino acid derivative from green tea. "( Protective Effect of L-Theanine on Cadmium-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells by Inhibiting the Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway.
Ben, P; Cao, X; Gao, Y; Lan, L; Luo, L; Shen, L; Sun, S; Xuan, C; Yin, Z; Zhang, Z; Zhou, Y, 2015
)
1.45
"l-Theanine is a unique non-protein-forming amino acid present in tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O."( l-Theanine inhibits proinflammatory PKC/ERK/ICAM-1/IL-33 signaling, apoptosis, and autophagy formation in substance P-induced hyperactive bladder in rats.
Chien, CT; Tsai, WH; Wu, CH; Yu, HJ, 2017
)
1.73
"l-theanine is a constituent of tea which is claimed to enhance cognitive functions. "( Acute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on attention.
Amarakoon, AMT; Dassanayake, TL; Kahathuduwa, CN; Weerasinghe, VS, 2017
)
1.52
"L-theanine is a major component of green tea, which has traditionally been used as an herbal remedy in the treatment of many medical conditions, including anxiety."( Anxiolytic effects of L-theanine--a component of green tea--when combined with midazolam, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
Adams, C; Ceremuga, TE; Heese, T; Jenkinson, J; Love, C; McCall, S; Milam, R; Perkins, L, 2009
)
1.22
"L-theanine is a unique amino acid present almost exclusively in the tea plant. "( L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study.
Lerner, V; Mar, M; Miodownik, C; Pintov, L; Ratner, Y; Ritsner, MS; Shleifer, T, 2011
)
1.81
"L-theanine was found to be a safe and well-tolerated medication."( L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study.
Lerner, V; Mar, M; Miodownik, C; Pintov, L; Ratner, Y; Ritsner, MS; Shleifer, T, 2011
)
1.65
"Theanine is a non-protein amino acid that occurs naturally in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and contributes to the favourable taste of tea. "( L-Theanine: properties, synthesis and isolation from tea.
Bowyer, MC; Roach, PD; Vuong, QV, 2011
)
2.53
"Theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid found in tea (Camellia sinensis). "( Optimum conditions for the water extraction of L-theanine from green tea.
Golding, JB; Nguyen, MH; Roach, PD; Stathopoulos, CE; Vuong, QV, 2011
)
2.07
"l-Theanine is a unique amino acid in green tea. "( l-Theanine prevents alcoholic liver injury through enhancing the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes.
Dai, Y; Gao, M; Jiang, W; Kang, J; Li, G; Luo, L; Wang, Q; Xin, Y; Yao, X; Ye, Y; Yin, Z; Zhang, Y, 2012
)
1.82
"L-Theanine is an amino acid contained in green tea leaves which is known to block the binding of L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors in the brain. "( L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses.
Juneja, LR; Kimura, K; Ohira, H; Ozeki, M, 2007
)
1.78
"Theanine is a physiologically and behaviourally active compound and, while it is unclear how its effects might explain perceived differences between tea and coffee, evidence suggests that it may be useful for reducing raised blood pressure."( Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together.
Heatherley, SV; Pleydell-Pearce, CW; Rogers, PJ; Smith, JE, 2008
)
2.01
"L-Theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea. "( The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood.
Haskell, CF; Kennedy, DO; Milne, AL; Scholey, AB; Wesnes, KA, 2008
)
1.41
"L-Theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid in tea, and shows many physiological functions. "( [Separation and quantification of theanine enantiomers using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with chiral derivatization].
Huang, J; Li, Y; Liu, Z, 2007
)
1.34
"Theanine is a peculiar amino acid existing in green tea leaves, which was previously indicated to enhance the antitumor activity of doxorubicin. "( Combination of theanine with doxorubicin inhibits hepatic metastasis of M5076 ovarian sarcoma.
Sadzuka, Y; Sugiyama, T, 1999
)
2.1

Effects

Theanine has a molecular structure close to glutamine (GLN) compared to glutamic acid (Glu) It has a protective effect on the induced brain injury by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which might be associated with its interaction with monoamine neurotransmitters.

L-Theanine has been shown to modulate levels of GABA, DA, and glutamate in various neural regions and to possess neuroprotective properties. L-theanine plays a significant role in the taste of tea.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"l-Theanine has a significant role in the taste of tea ("( Characterization of l-Theanine Hydrolase
Cheng, S; Dong, F; Fu, X; Hao, X; Liao, Y; Wang, X; Xu, P; Xu, X; Yang, Z, 2020
)
1.59
"Theanine has a molecular structure close to glutamine (GLN) compared to glutamic acid (Glu), in terms of the absence of a free carboxylic acid moiety from the gamma carbon position."( The role of glutamine in neurogenesis promoted by the green tea amino acid theanine in neural progenitor cells for brain health.
Kawada, K; Kuramoto, N; Yoneda, Y, 2019
)
1.47
"Theanine has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may be associated with its interaction with amino acid neurotransmitters and up-regulating the expression of BDNF mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA."( [Effects of theanine on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].
Shen, H; Shen, X; Wang, R; Wu, M, 2011
)
2.19
"Theanine has a protective effect on the induced brain injury by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which might be associated with its interaction with monoamine neurotransmitters and up-regulating the expressions of GluR2 mRNA and PLC-γ1 mRNA."( [Effects of theanine on monoamine neurotransmitters and related genes in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats].
Shen, H; Shen, XN; Wu, M; Yao, J, 2012
)
2.2
"Theanine has a higher binding capacity for the AMPA/kainate receptors than for NMDA receptors, although the binding capacity in all cases is markedly less than that of glutamic acid."( Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins.
Kakuda, T, 2002
)
1.29
"l-Theanine (LTN) has the relaxing, psychoactive, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and antinecrotic properties, and regulates the functions of hippocampus (HP) in brain."( How does l-theanine treatment affect the levels of serum and hippocampal BDNF, insulin and adipocytokines in diabetic rats?
Abidin, İ; Arıkan Malkoç, M; Hajizadeh Tekmeh, H; Kör, S; Kutlu, A; Orem, A; Vanizor Kural, B; Yuluğ, E, 2023
)
1.86
"l-Theanine has multiple beneficial biological activities. "( Effect of l-theanine on growth performance, intestinal development and health, and peptide and amino acid transporters expression of broilers.
Chen, K; Geng, Z; Wang, C; Zhang, C; Zhao, X, 2020
)
1.66
"Theanine has no polyphenol and flavonoid structures required for an anti-oxidative property as seen with catechins and tannins, which are more enriched in green tea."( Selective Upregulation by Theanine of Slc38a1 Expression in Neural Stem Cell for Brain Wellness.
Kawada, K; Kuramoto, N; Yoneda, Y, 2020
)
1.58
"L-theanine has been reported to inhibit inflammatory responses in some diseases and this study aimed to investigate the effect of L-theanine on Interleukin-1(IL-1)β-stimulated chondrocytes, and in an injury-induced OA rat model."( L-Theanine Reduced the Development of Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats via Its Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Matrix Degradation Actions: In Vivo and In Vitro Study.
Bai, H; Gao, L; Li, Y; Liu, C; Liu, L; Ma, T; Song, X; Wang, X; Yuan, R; Zhang, Z, 2020
)
1.84
"l-Theanine has a significant role in the taste of tea ("( Characterization of l-Theanine Hydrolase
Cheng, S; Dong, F; Fu, X; Hao, X; Liao, Y; Wang, X; Xu, P; Xu, X; Yang, Z, 2020
)
1.59
"l-Theanine has previously been shown to modulate levels of GABA, DA, and glutamate in various neural regions and to possess neuroprotective properties."( l-Theanine Prevents Long-Term Affective and Cognitive Side Effects of Adolescent Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure and Blocks Associated Molecular and Neuronal Abnormalities in the Mesocorticolimbic Circuitry.
De Felice, M; Hudson, R; Laviolette, SR; Pereira, BJ; Renard, J; Rushlow, WJ; Schmid, S; Szkudlarek, HJ, 2021
)
1.9
"L-theanine has been documented to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential in various animal models of neurological disorders. "( L-theanine prevent quinolinic acid induced motor deficit and striatal neurotoxicity: Reduction in oxido-nitrosative stress and restoration of striatal neurotransmitters level.
Gill, JS; Jamwal, S; Kumar, P; Singh, S, 2017
)
1.9
"L-theanine has various advantageous functions for human health; whether or not it could mediate the nutrients absorption is unknown yet. "( L-Theanine Administration Modulates the Absorption of Dietary Nutrients and Expression of Transporters and Receptors in the Intestinal Mucosa of Rats.
Han, X; Tan, Z; Tang, S; Tong, H; Yan, Q; Zhou, C, 2017
)
1.9
"l-Theanine has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuroprotective effects."( l-Theanine and NEP1-40 promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery after brachial plexus root avulsion.
Guo, WL; Huang, C; Li, R; Qi, ZP; Qu, WR; Zeng, LN; Zhu, Z, 2019
)
1.79
"Theanine has a molecular structure close to glutamine (GLN) compared to glutamic acid (Glu), in terms of the absence of a free carboxylic acid moiety from the gamma carbon position."( The role of glutamine in neurogenesis promoted by the green tea amino acid theanine in neural progenitor cells for brain health.
Kawada, K; Kuramoto, N; Yoneda, Y, 2019
)
1.47
"Theanine has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may be associated with its interaction with amino acid neurotransmitters and up-regulating the expression of BDNF mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA."( [Effects of theanine on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].
Shen, H; Shen, X; Wang, R; Wu, M, 2011
)
2.19
"L-theanine has been reported to inhibit the excitatory effects of caffeine. "( L-theanine partially counteracts caffeine-induced sleep disturbances in rats.
Ha, JH; Jang, HS; Jang, IS; Jang, KH; Jung, JY; Kim, SH; Lee, MG; Suk, K, 2012
)
1.82
"Theanine has a protective effect on the induced brain injury by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which might be associated with its interaction with monoamine neurotransmitters and up-regulating the expressions of GluR2 mRNA and PLC-γ1 mRNA."( [Effects of theanine on monoamine neurotransmitters and related genes in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats].
Shen, H; Shen, XN; Wu, M; Yao, J, 2012
)
2.2
"L-Theanine has favorable physiological effects in terms of human health, but the mechanisms that transport it to its target organs or cells are not completely defined. "( The involvement of L-type amino acid transporters in theanine transport.
Anzai, N; Kimura, T; Sakurai, T; Tachiki, T; Ushimaru, M; Yamamoto, S, 2012
)
1.35
"Theanine has a higher binding capacity for the AMPA/kainate receptors than for NMDA receptors, although the binding capacity in all cases is markedly less than that of glutamic acid."( Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins.
Kakuda, T, 2002
)
1.29
"L-theanine has been historically reported as a relaxing agent, prompting scientific research on its pharmacology."( The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent.
Gray, M; Lu, K; Nathan, PJ; Oliver, C, 2006
)
1.19

Actions

L-Theanine promotes relaxation without drowsiness. Theanine was shown to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and to stimulate neurogenesis.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Theanine can inhibit the glutamate receptors and regulate the extracellular concentration of glutamine, presenting neuroprotective effects."( Neuroprotective Effects and Mechanisms of Tea Bioactive Components in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Chen, SQ; Liang, YR; Lu, JL; Ma, YX; Wang, ZS; Zhang, W; Zheng, XQ, 2018
)
1.2
"Theanine was shown to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and to stimulate neurogenesis."( [Neurobiological effects of theanine and its possible use in neurology and psychiatry].
Katasonov, AB,
)
1.15
"L-Theanine promotes relaxation without drowsiness."( In Search of a Safe Natural Sleep Aid.
Juneja, LR; Ozeki, M; Rao, TP, 2015
)
0.98

Treatment

Oral treatment of l-theanine (2 and 4 mg/kg) for 5 weeks in the drinking water of mice, followed by injection of Abeta(1-42) (2 microg/mouse, icv), significantly attenuated memory impairment. Treatment with theanine or DHPG alone for 5-7 days resulted in increased expression of PLC-beta1 and -gamma1.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"L-theanine pre-treatment also up-regulated the EGF, CDC2, FGF2, Rb genes and down-regulated p53, p21 proliferation-related mRNA expression in DSS-treated cells, in accompany with p53 signaling pathway inhibition."( Protective Effects of L-Theanine on IPEC-J2 Cells Growth Inhibition Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium via p53 Signaling Pathway.
He, X; Li, Z; Ma, M; Song, Z; Zhang, H; Zhang, L, 2021
)
1.49
"L-theanine treatment effectively reduced the immunohistochemical hallmarks of Parkinson's disease, particularly Lewy bodies and α-synuclein, and increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells."( L-Theanine alleviates MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease by targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediated by the MAPK signaling pathway.
An, JH; Chung, KH; Kim, DH; Lee, KJ; Lee, YR; Ratih, K; Song, DH, 2023
)
2.19
"L-theanine treatment inhibited IL-1β-induced upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3 and MMP-13, as well as inhibited NF-κB p65 activation."( L-Theanine Reduced the Development of Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats via Its Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Matrix Degradation Actions: In Vivo and In Vitro Study.
Bai, H; Gao, L; Li, Y; Liu, C; Liu, L; Ma, T; Song, X; Wang, X; Yuan, R; Zhang, Z, 2020
)
1.84
"l-theanine treatment enhanced AMPKα phosphorylation both in adipocytes and iWAT."( l-Theanine Activates the Browning of White Adipose Tissue Through the AMPK/α-Ketoglutarate/Prdm16 Axis and Ameliorates Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.
Guo, L; Guo, YY; Li, BY; Peng, WQ; Tang, QQ; Xiao, G, 2021
)
1.9
"L-theanine treatment alone, at both the tested doses, significantly attenuated QA induced alterations."( L-theanine prevent quinolinic acid induced motor deficit and striatal neurotoxicity: Reduction in oxido-nitrosative stress and restoration of striatal neurotransmitters level.
Gill, JS; Jamwal, S; Kumar, P; Singh, S, 2017
)
1.73
"l-Theanine treatment enhanced the expression amplitude of clock genes, including Bmal1, Cry1, Rev-erbα, and Per2."( RNA-Sequencing Analysis Reveals l-Theanine Regulating Transcriptional Rhythm Alteration in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by Dexamethasone.
Ho, CT; Li, D; Wan, X; Wang, R; Xiao, M; Xie, Z; Zhang, Y, 2019
)
1.35
"L-theanine pre-treatment (25 and 50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly prevented these alterations."( L-theanine, a Component of Green Tea Prevents 3-Nitropropionic Acid (3-NP)-Induced Striatal Toxicity by Modulating Nitric Oxide Pathway.
Jamwal, S; Kumar, P, 2017
)
1.73
"Theanine treatment suppresses the neovascularization in a rat model of OIR. "( [The effect of theanine on oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in the neonatal rat].
Aburada, M; Hiramatsu, R; Iketani, Y; Koide, R; Nakanishi-Ueda, T; Shimada, T; Takenaka, Y; Tomoyasu, S; Ueda, T; Yasuhara, H, 2008
)
2.14
"L-theanine treatment also reduced the upregulation of the α(4), β(2) and α(7) nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits induced by nicotine in mouse brain regions that related to the dopamine reward pathway, thus decreasing the number of cells that could react to nicotine."( L-theanine inhibits nicotine-induced dependence via regulation of the nicotine acetylcholine receptor-dopamine reward pathway.
Chang, Y; Di, X; Yan, J; Zhao, B; Zhao, Y, 2012
)
1.66
"Treatment with theanine (1 mg/kg body mass, intraperitoneal injection) alone significantly reduced cerebral infarction induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, but caffeine (10 mg/kg, intravenous administration) alone only had a marginal effect."( Beneficial synergistic effects of concurrent treatment with theanine and caffeine against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
Feng, Y; Gou, L; Ling, X; Liu, Y; Sun, L; Tian, X; Wang, L; Yin, X, 2013
)
0.97
"Oral treatment of l-theanine (2 and 4 mg/kg) for 5 weeks in the drinking water of mice, followed by injection of Abeta(1-42) (2 microg/mouse, icv), significantly attenuated Abeta(1-42)-induced memory impairment."( l-Theanine, an amino acid in green tea, attenuates beta-amyloid-induced cognitive dysfunction and neurotoxicity: reduction in oxidative damage and inactivation of ERK/p38 kinase and NF-kappaB pathways.
Ban, JO; Choi, IS; Han, SB; Hong, JT; Kim, TI; Lee, YK; Nam, SY; Oh, KW; Park, HK; Park, SG; Yun, YW, 2009
)
1.39
"Treatment with theanine or DHPG alone for 5-7 days resulted in increased expression of PLC-beta1 and -gamma1, and the action of theanine was completely abolished by group I mGluR antagonists."( Possible involvement of group I mGluRs in neuroprotective effect of theanine.
Aoki, H; Fujimoto, S; Nagai, K; Nagasawa, K; Shimohama, S; Yasuda, E, 2004
)
0.9

Toxicity

Theanine attenuated the LD50 of strychnine. Clonidine, melatonin, L-theanine, eszopiclone and guanfacine were well tolerated. Zolpidem was associated with neuropsychiatric adverse effects.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" Besides, theanine induced the elevation of glutathione (GSH) level attributable to the increase of glutamate in the liver of mice, namely theanine would reduce the adverse reaction of DOX."( Effects of theanine on alcohol metabolism and hepatic toxicity.
Hirooka, S; Inoue, C; Sadzuka, Y; Sonobe, T; Sugiyama, T; Umegaki, K, 2005
)
1.12
" There were no consistent, statistically significant treatment-related adverse effects on behavior, morbidity, mortality, body weight, food consumption and efficiency, clinical chemistry, hematology, or urinalysis."( A 13-week dietary toxicity and toxicokinetic study with l-theanine in rats.
Borzelleca, JF; Hall, W; Peters, D, 2006
)
0.58
" Toxic tubular changes that typically accompany renal carcinogenesis were not seen in any of the other animals of the study, suggesting rather, an underlying germline mutation of a tumor suppressor gene in these three rats."( Spontaneous renal tubular hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions in three Sprague-Dawley rats from a 90-day toxicity study.
Borzelleca, JF; Cai, SL; Elder, B; Goodman, DG; Hall, WC; Peters, DG; Ulland, BM; Walker, CL, 2007
)
0.34
" The no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for the oral administration of L-theanine was determined to be above 2000 mg/kg bw/day."( In Search of a Safe Natural Sleep Aid.
Juneja, LR; Ozeki, M; Rao, TP, 2015
)
0.64
" LD50 of strychnine and hypnotic ED50 of pentobarbital sodium with or without theanine for mice were tested according to Bliss' case."( Theanine enhanced both the toxicity of strychnine and anticonvulsion of pentobarbital sodium.
Gao, JC; Wu, BL; Yang, W; Yu, XC, 2016
)
2.11
" Theanine attenuated the LD50 of strychnine."( Theanine enhanced both the toxicity of strychnine and anticonvulsion of pentobarbital sodium.
Gao, JC; Wu, BL; Yang, W; Yu, XC, 2016
)
2.79
"Nutritional therapy is used to reduce the adverse events (AEs) of anticancer drugs."( Oral administration of the amino acids cystine and theanine attenuates the adverse events of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer patients.
Hashimoto, T; Honda, H; Kakita, T; Kayahara, T; Kurihara, S; Oikawa, M; Oishi, H; Oyama, A; Shibakusa, T; Tochikubo, K; Tsuchiya, T, 2016
)
0.69
" Clonidine, melatonin, L-theanine, eszopiclone and guanfacine were well tolerated with mild to moderate adverse events; zolpidem was associated with neuropsychiatric adverse effects."( Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Drugs for Treating Behavioural Insomnia in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review with Methodological Quality Assessment.
Anand, S; Besag, FMC; Chan, EW; Cortese, S; Tong, H; Wong, ICK, 2017
)
0.76

Compound-Compound Interactions

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" The data suggest that L-theanine does not produce anxiolysis by modulation of the GABAA receptor; however, in combination with midazolam, a synergistic or additive effect was demonstrated by decreased anxiety and both fine and basic motor movements."( Anxiolytic effects of L-theanine--a component of green tea--when combined with midazolam, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
Adams, C; Ceremuga, TE; Heese, T; Jenkinson, J; Love, C; McCall, S; Milam, R; Perkins, L, 2009
)
0.96

Bioavailability

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" l-Th biochemically modulates various anti-neoplastic agents by increasing their bioavailability in tumour cells."( l-Theanine: An astounding sui generis integrant in tea.
Gulati, A; Joshi, R; Sharma, E, 2018
)
1.2

Dosage Studied

ExcerptRelevanceReference
" Electrophysiological results did not show increased differential biasing in phasic alpha across hemifields but showed lower overall tonic alpha power in the combined treatment, similar to previous findings at a larger dosage of L-theanine alone."( L-theanine and caffeine in combination affect human cognition as evidenced by oscillatory alpha-band activity and attention task performance.
Foxe, JJ; Gomez-Ramirez, M; Kelly, SP; Montesi, JL, 2008
)
1.25
" This approach was utilized on different green tea matrix materials that are commonly used as dietary supplements including powdered plant leaves, a powdered plant leaf extract, and an oral dosage form that contains green tea."( An LC-ESI/MS method for determining theanine in green tea dietary supplements.
Bedner, M; Sander, LC; Sharpless, KE, 2010
)
0.64
"Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used as an antitumor agent with topoisomerase II inhibiting activity; however, its dosage and duration of administration have been strictly limited due to dose-related organ damage."( Theanine prevents doxorubicin-induced acute hepatotoxicity by reducing intrinsic apoptotic response.
Konishi, H; Nagai, K; Oda, A, 2015
)
1.86
" A significant increase in free amino groups was observed in TBs with a dose-response effect, while addition of PEF in bread produced a significant decrease (p<0."( Effect of theanine and polyphenols enriched fractions from decaffeinated tea dust on the formation of Maillard reaction products and sensory attributes of breads.
Andlauer, W; Culetu, A; del Castillo, MD; Fernandez-Gomez, B; Ullate, M, 2016
)
0.84
" In this method, the GO sheets worked as a holder which makes silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) aggregate to a particular morphology, and under a suitable dosage of silver ions, well-dispersed AgNPs on the surface of GO were obtained, which could generate more "hot spots" of SERS."( Preparation of SERS-active substrates based on graphene oxide/silver nanocomposites for rapid zdetection of l-Theanine.
Liang, P; Ni, D; Yu, Z; Zheng, H, 2017
)
0.67
"Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly potent anti-neoplastic agent widely used in clinical practice, but its dosage and duration of administration are strictly limited due to dose-related organ damage."( Prevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Renal Toxicity by Theanine in Rats.
Fukuno, S; Hatsuda, Y; Konishi, H; Myotoku, M; Nagai, K; Nagamine, Y; Omotani, S; Otani, K, 2018
)
0.73
" A single dosage of 50 mg/kg saline or CP was administered intraperitoneally over the course of 5 days."( Protective Effect of l-Theanine on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice.
Fang, C; Feng, D; Gong, X; Huang, F; Li, L; Liu, D; Luo, F; Wang, Y; Xu, Y; Yao, Y; Ye, S; Ye, Y, 2023
)
1.22
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Occurs in Manufacturing (6 Items)

ItemProcessFrequency
Artificially sweetened beveragescore-ingredient2
Beveragescore-ingredient2
Preworkoutcore-ingredient1
Dietary drink for sportcore-ingredient1
Diet beveragescore-ingredient1
Energy drinkscore-ingredient1

Roles (3)

RoleDescription
plant metaboliteAny eukaryotic metabolite produced during a metabolic reaction in plants, the kingdom that include flowering plants, conifers and other gymnosperms.
neuroprotective agentAny compound that can be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
plant metaboliteAny eukaryotic metabolite produced during a metabolic reaction in plants, the kingdom that include flowering plants, conifers and other gymnosperms.
geroprotectorAny compound that supports healthy aging, slows the biological aging process, or extends lifespan.
[role information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Drug Classes (2)

ClassDescription
amino acid zwitterionThe zwitterionic form of an amino acid having a negatively charged carboxyl group and a positively charged amino group.
N(5)-alkyl-L-glutamineAn L-glutamine derivative having an alkyl group attached to the amide nitrogen.
[compound class information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Bioassays (3)

Assay IDTitleYearJournalArticle
AID977599Inhibition of sodium fluorescein uptake in OATP1B1-transfected CHO cells at an equimolar substrate-inhibitor concentration of 10 uM2013Molecular pharmacology, Jun, Volume: 83, Issue:6
Structure-based identification of OATP1B1/3 inhibitors.
AID977602Inhibition of sodium fluorescein uptake in OATP1B3-transfected CHO cells at an equimolar substrate-inhibitor concentration of 10 uM2013Molecular pharmacology, Jun, Volume: 83, Issue:6
Structure-based identification of OATP1B1/3 inhibitors.
AID1159550Human Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) Inhibitor Screening2015Nature cell biology, Nov, Volume: 17, Issue:11
6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase links oxidative PPP, lipogenesis and tumour growth by inhibiting LKB1-AMPK signalling.
[information is prepared from bioassay data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Research

Studies (473)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-19904 (0.85)18.7374
1990's14 (2.96)18.2507
2000's79 (16.70)29.6817
2010's222 (46.93)24.3611
2020's154 (32.56)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 72.52

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index72.52 (24.57)
Research Supply Index6.32 (2.92)
Research Growth Index5.56 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index248.00 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index3.94 (0.95)

This Compound (72.52)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials70 (14.40%)5.53%
Reviews51 (10.49%)6.00%
Case Studies0 (0.00%)4.05%
Observational0 (0.00%)0.25%
Other365 (75.10%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]