Mate Extract

Mate, llex parafuariensis is a widely-cultivated, medium-sized evergreen tree, native to Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay that can grow up to 20 m high in the wild. When cultivated, it is pruned to a shrubby, 4-8 m tall tree so as to make harvesting process easier.

Yerba Mate’s leathery leaves are brewed into a typical beverage that has been consumed in South America since the time of the ancient Indians of Southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, where until nowadays it is considered a national drink.

The primary active chemicals of yerba mate are xanthine alkaloids (caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline), saponins, and chlorogenic acid. Sterols resembling ergosterol and cholesterol are also present in yerba mate. Saponins are plant chemicals with known pharmacological activities including, as recent research shows, stimulation of the immune system. In addition, yerba mate leaf is a rich source of vitamins, mineral, and 15 amino acids.

The traditional use of yerba mate for fatigue is explained by its primary active chemical: caffeine, which is a known stimulant acting on the enhancement of athletic and cognitive performance, after sleep deprivation and stress.

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