What Is Yerba Mate Good For?

Yerba mate, a tea made from the plant Ilex paraguariensis, has been consumed in South American countries since the times of the ancient Indian civilizations, according to the Tropical Plant Database. Ilex paraguariensis is a medium-size evergreen tree that grows near streams at about 2,000 feet above sea level. The leaves are used to make the popular beverage, which has a variety of reputed health benefits.

Antioxidant

The ability of yerba mate to promote production and activity of peroxidase--an antioxidant enzyme in the mouth--was examined in a 2007 "Food and Chemical Toxicity" study. The study, which used rats as subjects, found an increase in total peroxidase levels and peroxidase activity for both water extracts and alcohol extracts of yerba mate. However, a commercial product made from the plant produced results superior to both of the laboratory extracts.

Fatigue

Yerba mate contains 50-100 mg caffeine per 6 oz cup, according to the Tropical Plant Database, giving it twice or more the stimulant effect of black tea, which contains 10-60 mg per 6 oz. cup and equal to or half of the stimulant effect of an equivalent amount of coffee, which contains 100-250 mg per 6 oz. cup. This is counter to claims made by distributors of yerba mate in the U.S., who assert that mate contains a chemical similar to caffeine--called mateine--but without its negative effects, says the Tropical Plant Database.

Diabetes

Yerba mate was found to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation endproducts, or AGE's, in a 2005 "Fitoterapia" study. Advance glycation endproducts result when excess blood sugar--as occurs in diabetes--reacts with protein molecules circulating in the bloodstream. The researchers found that a water extract of yerba mate reduced the formation of AGE's by 40 percent, while green tea did not show any significant effect. Yerba mate had its effect by inhibiting the second phase of the glycation reaction, which is mediated by free radicals.

Liver Protective

A study in the 2001 "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" found yerba mate to have choleretic, or bile-stimulating, properties as well as the ability to decrease intestinal transit time. Four varieties of the plant were tested and two--I. paraguariensis and I. brevicuspis--had both bile stimulating and intestinal motility stimulating effects, while the other two--I. argentina and I. theezans--had neither effect. The researchers concluded that some substitute or adulterant forms of Ibex paraguariensis--the original form of the plant--may have an adverse on its therapeutic properties.

Cautions and Considerations

Certain preparation methods in combination with predisposing factors such as oral health, nutritional status and gender can put some individuals at risk for developing some forms of cancer, including cancer of the mouth and throat, according to the website AssociatedContent.com.

Those on MAO-inhibiting drugs for depression may want to exercise caution when using yerba mate as it has a potentiating, or enhancing effect on that class of drugs, according to the Tropical Plant Database.