Selective effects of tea extract and its phenolic compounds on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cytokine secretions.
BACKGROUND
The effects of black tea extract (BTE) and some of its pure phenolics on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine secretion were examined in vitro.


METHODS
The main steps of the study included chromatographic analysis of BTE and commercial green tea extract, Polyphenon 60, determination of the total antioxidant capacity of both the extracts and their phenolics, and finally evaluation of their effects on PBMCs.


RESULTS
Four major peaks in the chromatogram of BTE belonged to caffeine, gallic acid, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate, and the latter showed the highest antioxidant capacity. While pure phenolics at the concentration of 20 mM did not significantly affect PBMC cytokine secretion, BTE and Polyphenon 60 suppressed interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Interestingly, the secretion of interferon-gamma after 24 h was slightly, but significantly, boosted by the extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
BTE has selective pro-inflammatory cytokine-suppressing effects on human PBMCs.
Neyestani
Tirang R
TR
Laboratory of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute and Faculty, Shaheed Beheshti University (M.C.), Tehran, Iran. tneyestani@nnftri.ac.ir
Gharavi
A'azam
A
Kalayi
Ali
A
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
D000975:Antioxidants; D002110:Caffeine; D002392:Catechin; D016207:Cytokines; D005707:Gallic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; C057580:gallocatechol