Green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract ameliorates endotoxin induced sickness behavior and liver damage in rats.
Immune activation, either by cytokines or endotoxin, elicits a constellation of nonspecific symptoms such as weakness, malaise, listlessness, fatigue, adipsia, anorexia, depression and anxiety collectively termed as sickness behavior. Further, endotoxin administration in animals has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many types of liver disease. Green tea, a common household drink, is rich in antioxidant polyphenols demonstrating inhibitory effects on cytokine production. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic treatment of green tea extract (GTE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior and liver damage in rats. The hypothesis was tested through the analysis of LPS-induced behavioral changes in rats, in plus maze and open field paradigms. Other parameters such as feeding and water consumption, weight loss and organ weight index were also estimated. Liver function tests were conducted to investigate the effect of GTE supplementation on LPS-induced hepatic dysfunction. The results of the study demonstrated that GTE significantly attenuated LPS-induced sickness behavior as well as hepatic damage either by its antioxidant activity or by inhibiting LPS induced cytokine production in rats.
Singal
Anjali
A
Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
Tirkey
Naveen
N
Pilkhwal
Sangeeta
S
Chopra
Kanwaljit
K
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts