Mate | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Mate
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For Healthcare Professionals
Mate is a plant native to South America. It is widely consumed as a hot beverage known as chimarrão, and is also used in traditional medicine. Mate is valued for its stimulatory effects and promoted as a dietary supplement for weight loss, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer prevention.
Studies in humans are limited. One product containing mate delayed gastric emptying in overweight patients (5), and other data in generally healthy women suggest consumption may have short-term effects on caloric intake and appetite regulation (6). However, higher bodyweight has been observed in a large population of heavy mate drinkers (34). Studies on mate for bone health are also mixed (7)(35).
In various cancer models, mate compounds exhibited proteasome (8) and topoisomerase (9) inhibitory properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects (10)(11). However, no large-scale clinical studies have evaluated safety and efficacy of mate in humans.
Further, epidemiologic data show that chronic mate drinkers are at an increased risk of prostate (12), bladder (13)(14)(15), esophageal (16)(17), lung (18), and head and neck cancers (19). This risk appears to be additive when combined with chronic alcohol or tobacco use (20). Evidence also suggests that drinking very hot mate contributes to its carcinogenic effects (33), although consuming large amounts can increase risk regardless of temperature (36).
Purported Uses and Benefits
Appetite suppression
Bone health
Cancer
Depression
Fatigue
Headaches
Promote urination
Stimulant
Weight loss
Mechanism of Action
In vitro studies suggest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of mate may be due to its polyphenolic content (1)(22)(26), while cardioprotective effects occur through the regulation of nitric oxide (2). Caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine are the xanthines in mate largely responsible for its stimulatory effects (21)(22)(23)(24)(25).
Anticancer activities of mate extract may occur through proteasome (8) and topoisomerase (9) inhibition. It also reduced DNA damage from oxidative stress (1). In human colon cancer cells, saponins and phenolics in mate demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity and induced apoptosis through caspase activation (10)(11). However, other carcinogenic constituents in mate and high temperatures used for brewing could facilitate their solubility and absorption (19)(25) and thus explain associated increased cancer risks.
Warnings
High doses and prolonged consumption of mate tea are associated with an increased risk of various cancers (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(36). Concomitant long-term alcohol or tobacco use further increases this risk (20).
Contraindications
Patients with hypertension, cardiac disorders, and anxiety should not consume mate (28)(29)(30).
Case reports
Acute hepatitis: In a 21-year old American man, attributed to regular ingestion of mate tea once or twice daily for 4 months while visiting Argentina (37).
Hepatic veno-occlusive disease/liver failure: In an adult woman, linked to the chronic long-term use of mate that contained small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (32).
Neonatal withdrawal syndrome: In a premature newborn whose mother drank mate during pregnancy. Intermittent irritability remained 24 days later at discharge (31).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Chemotherapy: Due to its antioxidant activity, mate may interfere with some chemotherapy drugs (1). Stimulant, cardiac, hypertension, or antidepressant drugs: Due to its caffeine content, mate may interact with these drugs, although specific interactions have not been studied.
Herb Lab Interactions
Due to the caffeine content in mate, the following lab tests may be altered: